Violent or troubling incidents involving our public schools – like this past week’s social media threat toward Vero Beach High, or last month’s disruption at Sebastian River High – attract short-lived attention, but in most cases, it’s nearly impossible to find out what ultimately becomes of the arrested offender.
Locally, there is no transparency in terms of the follow-up that occurs after the initial headlines. Most offenders are minors, meaning their records are sealed unless prosecuted as adults. School disciplinary records are confidential, so the public has no way of knowing if students who made a threat or got violent were suspended, expelled, referred to on-line programs, or if they’re back on campus attending classes.
Vero Beach 32963 earlier this year set out to follow up on cases that made headlines over the past two years, and in the meantime, two new incidents occurred…