Polehanki​'s Bill Aims To Protect School Employees, Teachers

PLYMOUTH-CANTON, MI — State Senator Dayna Polehanki introduced legislation Thursday that would ensure consequences against those who harm teachers, staff and administrators.

The bill would make sure that anyone who assaults, batters, wounds or endangers school staff or school board members acting in their official duties will face a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $1,000 and a year in jail.

Polehanki said that COVID-19 restrictions in schools have caused threats to school employees and their families. She also said that she personally knows a school board member who had to be "escorted out the back door by security," another who was "stalked at her home" and a superintendent who receive a message demanding "they change their mask policy or else."

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"The Michigan Legislature needs to send a clear message that any violence perpetrated against school staff and board members will not be tolerated and will carry significant penalties," Polehanki said. "We need to do this before someone gets hurt."