School boards may soon have more discretion in how to respond when items like pocket knives and baseball bats are brought to school.
The General Assembly passed a House bill late last week that gives boards of education discretion in disciplining students who bring pocket knives and similar objects on school campuses, relaxing the zero-tolerance policy that’s been in place for several years.
Authored by Rep. Ed Setzler (R-Acworth), House Bill 826 passed in both the House and Senate this session. The bill now heads to Gov. Nathan Deal to be signed into law or vetoed.
Carrollton City Schools superintendent Dr. Kent Edwards said the law, if passed, would strengthen the no-weapons policy by loosening the zero-tolerance policy.
“I think this will bring us some much-needed flexibility, which will end up actually strengthening our policy,” he said. “This is something all school systems will welcome, I think, as student safety remains at the forefront of all our considerations.”
The superintendent said the House bill, which passed unanimously in the House and 44-2 in the Senate, “brings common sense into the legislation.”
“That’s always appreciated,” he said.
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