Looking through the RSMo I couldn't find any mention of school liability or jurisdiction beyond school grounds, school events, and school buses (but see below). However, there were several areas where the phrase "within one thousand feet of school property" was used, which means there might be case law covering school liability up to that distance from the school. (For example, one of those areas barred suspended students from being within that distance, showing that the school does have some authority, even over suspended students, outside of school property.) That would also explain crossing guards.
There was also a relatively new (2007?) RSMo concerning bullying, which specifically mentioned cyber-bullying and on-line activities. Whether that means the school can poke it's nose into that kind of thing when it's not during school hours or not I don't know. An older RSMo says harassment is illegal and refers to another section of law which specifically cites "causing ... emotional distress" as a form of harassment.
Very VERY nice of you to do some research. Thank you very much!! I'm always up to learning something on DP; it's one reason I'm here. Not to belabor the point, but the discussion is interesting. When Layla used the phrasing, "The school is
responsible for their safety...", that to me conjures up legal liability. There is no doubt in my mind that, for instance, field trips or sporting events or riding the school bus...that kind of thing...represents a legal responsibility for the school -- to provide a safe environment and supervision, for instance. My argument is that, for example, once a student gets safely off the school bus, the school has no further duty or responsibility for them.
Oh!!! I learned something!!! School crossing guards, employed by the city of St. Louis, make $25.95 "per performance." Wow! I'd assume a "performance" might mean 3X a day -- morning/lunch/afternoon. That's pretty good money. Who knew?? They go on to say it's usually four hours a day total or less.
And one of their responsibilities is to record license numbers of scofflaws and report them to their supervisors. And
another responsibility of theirs is to report children's unsafe behavior to the school. Interesting!
That last one, about unsafe behavior, would indicate the school has "authority" over students in that situation. That, though, is different from "responsibility".
Current Jobs With The City of St. Louis
In the City of Chicago, as an example, there
is no school-provided transportation. One of the consequences of the city closing dozens of schools this past year is that students must traverse much longer distances to get to school sometimes putting them at risk for gang behavior, etc. The City of Chicago has established some "safe routes" for kids that have extra personnel trying to ensure kids' safety before and after school. If the city of Chicago, or the public school system, could be sued because a child was injured going to and from school? The system would be broke. When they've undertaken to provide these safe zones? Well, I'd say they
may have
bought a legal responsibility by their actions. (Maybe...try to sue the city or a school...I think it would be neigh onto impossible to win.)
It's an interesting concept...interesting discussion...Thank you for engaging me.