Recently there has been a “new” law making punishment for fighting and bullying in school more severe. Severe as in imprisonment.

Assistant principal Chad Valdez said he feels as if Oak Park deals more with bullying than physical fights.

“People are going to do what they do, I don’t even think many people know about the law.”

He said the law will “get others involved that will make the situation worse.”

School resource officer Scott Archer said, “the law isn’t so much new, they’ve just changed the class to felony. I think bringing it up and showing that it’s a possibility will hopefully subside issues.”

Links to related materials:

• Opinion: https://northmennews.com/4098/opinion/new-state-law-should-apply-to-high-school-only/
• The law: http://www.moga.mo.gov/mostatutes/statutesAna.html
• Other media coverage: http://fox2now.com/2017/01/02/3-new-laws-missouri-residents-need-to-know-about/