Senate passes school safety bill

Grand Island Dispatch, March 10, 2006

Newly elected New York State Sen. Marc Coppola, D-60th District, announces passage of a bill that would allow violent or disruptive students to be transferred, for disciplinary reasons into an alternative educational environment.

Coppola said this would allow students to receive the supervision and attention they need and allow the schools to remain free of disruption and danger.

Advocating for this bill marks the first time Coppola has spoken before the state Senate while in session.

“As an alumni of Lafayette High School and a former pupil of Scott Raimondo, a teacher seriously injured by a student during a fight, I am outraged at the level of violence in our public schools,” Coppola said. “It is absolutely unacceptable that students who have been involved with violent acts are readmitted to the same school. Passage of this legislation will give schools more choices in dealing with violent or severely disruptive students, protecting the safety of students and teachers.”

Under existing law, school officials are not permitted to transfer problem students, only give them a series of suspensions. Under the bill, the school board, the school superintendent or the principal of a school would be authorized to involuntarily transfer violent or disruptive students to an appropriate educational setting in another school.

“Our children, as well as our teachers, deserve an environment that is safe and free of disruption,” Coppola said. “We need to send a message that this kind of violent behavior will not be tolerated in our schools.”

Coppola said he is committed to working with Assemblyman Sam Hoyt, D-Buffalo, Grand Island, and other elected officials to reopen Buffalo Alternative High School and ensure that children have a safe and undisrupted learning environment.

The bill was sent to the Assembly. Coppola represents a district comprised of a large portion of the City of Buffalo, Grand Island, the City of Tonawanda and the City of Niagara Falls.