In the wake of incidents around the country, Georgia state school officials and state lawmakers have turned their attention to ensuring students are safe in schools.
Most recently, the Georgia Senate School Safety Committee, chaired by Sen. John Albers (R-Roswell), announced that it hold its first meeting this Friday, June 8, at North Springs High School.
The eight-member committee was created through Senate Resolution 935 and will meet with parents, teachers and students across the state until December 1, 2018, in preparation for the 2019 Legislative Session.
Monday, State School Superintendent Richard Woods released detailed information to school districts regarding $16 million in bond funding available to help schools enhance student safety. The funding included was created by HB 763, which provides the criteria for the $16 million. This legislation was designed to improve coordination between schools and local law enforcement while assisting schools to establish comprehensive school safety plans before the 2018 school year begins
This, according to information released earlier this year by Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, will include examining best practices to secure campuses and train faculty, teachers, and students to exercise emergency preparedness procedures.”
“It’s our absolute first priority at the state level to make sure students have a safe, secure place to learn,” Superintendent Woods said. “School leaders in Georgia, in partnership with law enforcement and emergency management agencies, are doing great work to keep students safe, and I know these funds will help them go even further to improve school security. I deeply appreciate the leadership of the Georgia General Assembly on this issue and will continue to work with them to address this issue in a comprehensive way.”
Every local school district will receive a base amount of $25,000, and the remaining $11.5 million will be allocated based on the amount of students enrolled in each district.
State law requires districts to use the funding for improvements or refurbishments to a district’s physical footprint (for example, fencing or security doors) and/or equipment which can be capitalized (for example, security camera systems).
This effort is part of a broader, comprehensive approach to school safety that includes deep conversations around school climate and culture, statewide partnerships with organizations like the Georgia Emergency Management & Homeland Security Agency, the Georgia Attorney General’s Office, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office – Middle District of Georgia.
Earlier in the year, Superintendent Woods sent a letter to educational leaders in schools across the state, urging them to examine their preparedness in certain areas.
In his letter, Woods wrote, “Each day we are entrusted with the safety of nearly 1.8 million students and hundreds of thousands of staff members who come through our doors. School safety is our top priority and responsibility. We are heartbroken for the students, educators and communities who have been impacted by acts of violence on school grounds, and I know you feel the same. We must take this time to review our own school safety procedures and plans and ensure our students and staff members are protected.”
