Sep 22, 2009 7:24 pm US/Eastern
Miami-Dade Schools Takes New Approach To Bullying
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
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As word of the stabbing at Coral Gables High School spread last week, more parents rushed to the school, even though officials promised the students were safe.
CBS
A 14-year-old student who was arrested after police say he brought a loaded 20-caliber gun to school Monday was in juvenile court Tuesday. Attorneys for the student waived his appearance and entered a plea of not guilty in court.
The seventh grader was arrested at Leisure City K-8 Center in Homestead after school officials found a gun in the child's book bag. Administrators at the school, at 14950 SW 288th St., searched the book bag after receiving a tip from another student, according to Miami-Dade County School district spokesman John Schuster.
The seventh grader was suspended and will be recommended for expulsion, Schuster said. The judge in the case ordered the teen to be held in detention and will have to a psychological evaluation.
Monday's arrest is the latest in a string of recent South Florida school weapon incidents.
On Friday, school officials found a gun inside a book bag Robert Morgan Educational Center and a student with a razor blade was arrested at Robert Renick Educational Center.
Also last week, 7 other Miami-Dade students, from 7 different schools, were taken into police custody for bringing or trying to bring weapons to school and a Coral Gables Senior High School sophomore was stabbed to death allegedly by another 17-year-old classmate.
At Miami Springs Senior High, a student was arrested for bringing a loaded .38 revolver. A 16-year-old South Dade Senior High student was arrested on his way to school after his father called police to tell them he'd seen his son leave with the weapon. At Hialeah Miami Lakes Senior High, a student was arrested for bringing a box cutter to school. At Lake Stevens Middle School, a student was arrested for having a Taser on campus.
Students at Palm Springs Middle School, Michael Krop Senior High and Coral Park Senior High were arrested for carrying a knife on school grounds.
In Coral Springs, a 12-year-old boy faces first-degree murder charges after allegedly stabbing a 13-year-old boy in the back with a kitchen knife Friday afternoon. The incident occurred on the 10-thousand block of NW 17th Street. The 12-year-old also tried to kill himself by stabbing himself in the stomach with a separate knife, according to Coral Springs Police Sgt. Joe McHugh.
All of these incidents prompted Miami-Dade Schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho to address the problem Friday when he called upon the South Florida community to take a collective stand.
"The time is now for us to break the chain of disrespect on behalf of the kids,'' Carvalho said.
Surrounded by civic and faith-based leaders, Carvalho announced a new community-wide initiative to curb violent behavior. His plan includes reaching out to parents, holding a student summit and encouraging teens to send in tips through social media platforms like Twitter and MySpace.
In the 2007-08 school year, 117 weapons were found on 54 campuses in Miami-Dade County. Coral Park led the list with nine. The hot line for anonymous tips about potential threats on campus is 305-995-COPS (2677) in Miami-Dade and 954-321-0911 in Broward.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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