As many of our neighbors are heading back to school, I wanted to take a moment to highlight an important trio of bills I’ve advanced centered around protecting students and their families, inside and outside the classroom.
When students, faculty, and staff arrive at school, they should never feel like they’re being surveilled. This is simply a matter of safety, and S.1694A would enhance the safety of all New York schools by prohibiting the recording or broadcasting of school entrances and exits. Students and staff have a right to enter and leave their school without fear of being recorded by adjacent properties. A secure learning environment is essential for students to thrive, and this measure helps keep children protected.
To further help protect our children, S.5765 would put an end to a critical flaw in the notification of a parent or guardian when any alligation of child abuse in a school setting is reported. Currently, the law requires guardians to be notified “promptly” after the accusation. This bill changes the mandate to “immediate” notification of allegations, providing parents and guardians with timely information so they can take necessary steps to protect their children. While the hope is that no parent or guardian ever receives such a notification, this legislation would ensure that, if they did, they receive essential information straightaway.
Lastly, in 2023, a teacher accused of sexual abuse resigned from Lakeland School District in Putnam County amid a pending lawsuit. Regulations at the time prevented the State Education Department (SED) from sharing information about the investigation with a prospective employer, and the teacher was hired by an Orange County school district, who were unaware of the allegations. Once this was reported, I quickly introduced bill S.312, and successfully worked with SED to adopt new regulatory changes to encourage faster processing of these sensitive investigations, and to give more leeway for school districts to confirm the existence of complaints during background checks.
Education shapes lives and strengthens communities, and providing support for students, teachers, and staff has been my priority since the day I was elected. These measures keep students and staff safe, and families better informed, and I will continue to fight to see these issues elevated and the legislation passed. When it comes to creating and maintaining a safe, secure, and welcoming learning environment in school, there is no issue too small, no fight too big.
