This week's safe schools snippets

New York teen bullied even in death

(Reuters) – Weeks after the suicide of 14-year-old Jamey Rodemeyer in western New York, school officials, police and lawmakers are grappling with ways to prevent the kind of schoolyard bullying being blamed for his death. Read more in Reuters.

NY police check computer, phone in bullying probe

AMHERST, N.Y. — Police investigating the suicide of a 14-year-old New York boy have sent his computer and cell phone to a forensics lab to help determine whether bullying he endured rose to a criminal level.

Amherst Police Chief John Askey said Wednesday it could take weeks or months for experts to check Jamey Rodemeyer’s devices for evidence that could support charges of aggravated harassment or a hate crime. Read more in the Wall Street Journal.

Colo. State Patrol gets  letters about stopping for school buses

Due to letters sent to the Department of Public Safety, Col. James M. Wolfinbarger, chief of the Colorado State Patrol, and Linda M. Kanan, director of the Colorado School Safety Resource Center and EdNews Parent expert, remind Colorado drivers that they must come to a full stop “…upon meeting or overtaking from either direction any school bus that has stopped…” and is displaying flashing red lights, according to state law. Read more in this Northern Colorado 5 report.

Poll: More teens say their social media being hacked

WASHINGTON — Young people are having a harder time keeping their profile pages and email accounts secure, especially from prankster friends. And although many treat hacking or spying as a joke, nearly half who have been victims were upset by it. Read more in the Washington Post.

About our First Person series:

First Person is where Chalkbeat features personal essays by educators, students, parents, and others trying to improve public education. Read our submission guidelines here.