State Bill Could Mean Felony Charges for Teens

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CHARLOTTE, NC —Β There’s a push in Raleigh to make the assault of a public school teacher by a student an automatic felony.

Some worry that could ruin young lives. Others say we need to do whatever it takes to protect teachers.

"We want our school employees protected on site,” says Charlotte Mecklenburg Association of Educators president Charles Smith.Β 
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The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction recorded more than 1,300 assaults against school employees, on school grounds, by students 16 and older last year.
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“Yeah, it’s not always, it’s not always safe,” says Smith. “Or the potential is there.”
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The Charlotte Mecklenburg Association of Educators has yet to take a stance on a senate education committee proposal that would make those assaults an automatic felony.
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CMS Superintendent Ann Clark says it sends a strong message to her district’s 18,000 employees.
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“We take that very seriously,” says Superintendent Clark. “I think the state of North Carolina takes that very seriously in terms of consequences. Obviously this bill would heighten the consequences for our students.”
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Current law makes student assaults on teachers a misdemeanor.
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Republican senator Jerry Tillman from Randolph County has already changed his new bill to add an exception for students with disabilities.
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Some say increasing the charge to a felony could create crippling, lifelong consequences for teens. Others feel the punishment fits the crime.
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“Wouldn’t it go hand in hand with any other assault charge?” says Huntersville resident Jeff Bartosch. “Wouldn’t it not be, carry the same penalties and go through the same process? I mean they are minors, but I’m sure that’s, how would a teacher be any different than any other person?”
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“Our ultimate position is we want school employees to be safe,” says Smith. “We’re still waiting to see exactly how the final language is going to be.”
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The bill now heads to a judiciary committee where senators will continue to work on fine-tuning the definition of assault.