All adults who worked in Chicago public schools – including employees, coaches, volunteers and vendors – will undergo background checks before classes begin this fall, CPS announced last week.
NYPD Commissioner James O’Neill joined local politicians and school officials earlier this month to demand that state legislators push through a bill to add hundreds of additional surveillance cameras on streets in school zones.
“One of the key components to ensuring comprehensive school safety is an effective school resource officer,” says Atif Qarni, Secretary of Education. “This funding will greatly help schools partner with officers to promote safety of our students and schools.”
The Orange County, FL Board of Supervisors voted unanimously on a three-year, $4 million active-shooter training program for teachers and school officials.
The Broward League of Cities' task force on school security released a 93-page report with 100 suggestions this week, including increasing school hardening, reformed discipline policies and access to mental health resources.
Governor Chris Sununu will boost New Hampshire’s campaign to improve security in public schools by another $10 million, bringing total school security spending to nearly $30 million over the past year.
“The Hanwha Techwin cameras integrate perfectly with our VMS system and we particularly like the on-the-edge analytics that the cameras provide in addition to using motion to trigger recording.” - Brandon Knutson, Director of Security Department, Everett Public Schools
Two Michigan House bills would allow teachers to carry self-defense sprays and foams in their schools. Sponsored by state Rep. Beau LaFave, R-Iron Mountain, teachers who undergo proper licensing and training also would be allowed to carry Tasers under the proposed legislation.
A proposed New Jersey bill would mandate panic buttons and red emergency lights in schools.
Dubbed “Alyssa’s Law,” the legislation would require all schools to have a dedicated panic button for use during school shootings and other dire emergencies, the New York Post said.