Highlights of school safety, security, and crisis incidents and issues around the nation for the week of February 1-5, 2010:

Madison, AL:  Ninth-grader fatally shot by classmate at Alabama school A 14-year-old male midde school student was shot in the back of the head by another student during class change and died. 

Panama City, FL:  8 Fla. students expelled for role in gang ritual  A 13-year-old male middle school student allegedly allowing a group of other students to beat him into a gang in an initiation ritual caught on video in a middle school restroom.

Omaha, NE:  School security praised   Incidents at three Omaha-area high schools, and a lockdown in another district, generated heightened police and security measures.

Birmingham, AL:  Birmingham police arrest five in Wenonah High School brawl, pen stabbing  Two mothers and their daughters, along with a man who was outside of the school, were arrested after a fight broke out in the school.

Kentwood, MI:  Kentwood schools will step up security after shots fired after basketball game   Security will be beefed up at a high school basketball game after two males were reportedly seen firing handguns in the air outside the school at a Friday basketball game.

Baltimore, MD:  Ex-policeman due in court on charges of impersonating an officer  A 26-year-old former police officer is due in court after being charged with posing as an undercover officer at a Baltimore high school.

Indianapolis, IN:  Budget Woes Could Cut School Police Force  School officials may cut up to 15 of the district’s 75 school police officers as a part of the district’s plan to cut $26 million from its budget.

Ken Trump