Virginia’s extensive efforts when it comes to school safety has been discussed as the House of Delegates’ first Select Committee in 155 years have taken a broad approach to looking at warding off violence in schools. As lawmakers traveled throughout the Commonwealth, they were met by school administrators, teachers, and staff that spoke about both preventing violence and addressing student behavioral issues.
On Thursday, Speaker of the House Kirk Cox (R-Colonial Heights) convened the Select Committee’s first official meeting in Richmond.
“There’s more to school safety than higher walls and stronger locks,” Cox said, who explained it was heartening to listen to 90 minutes of briefing on steps the Commonwealth has taken over the years. One of which includes the new safety curtains installed in the glassed-in front office of Colonial Heights High School, where the Speaker used to teach government, the Daily Press reports.
Cox said it was heartening to hear nearly 90 minutes of briefing on steps the state has taken in recent years.
Furthermore, security measures range from having one of the top School Resource Officer programs in the country, to being the only state that requires threat assessment teams to be present in K-12 schools and colleges, and having the longest-lived clearing house for school safety concerns and training at the Department of Criminal Justice Services.
However, the Speaker explained, “there’s more to do.”
Delegate Mike Mullin (D-Newport News) also said that the violence in schools that comes from bullying can foreshadow dangerous future events. Therefore, addressing bullying will also be a part of the Select Committee work in the months ahead.
One of the facets of school safety that was explained by many lawmakers was a sense of community building. House Appropriations Committee Chairman Chris Jones (R-Suffolk) said, “enhancing safety means building trust.”
While on a tour of schools in South Hampton Roads, Jones was made aware of a social media post that announced “something big” was about to occur in the school’s cafeteria. Although it was just a prom-related activity, it still meant hours of anxiety-ridden school officials and parents who had thought the worst.
Jones said, “making sure everybody feels safe and secure in school will be a big job.”
Select Committee Vice Chairman Danny Marshall (R-Pittsylvania County) has been surprised by the sheer amount of security measures that have been put into place to ensure school safety.
“We have a strong foundation we’ll be able to add to,” he said.
Marshall explained that he has received over 100 emails with suggestions from citizens about proposed safety measure within the last month. Nevertheless, he said some of those correspondents are still worried.
As local and state policies are reviews and recommendations will be made on school safety during the 2019 session of the General Assembly, the Select Committee and the discussions undertaken will not be related to guns or broader behavioral health policy, Cox explained. He said that other General Assembly committees and commissions are looking at those issues.
Instead it will look at providing additional mental health resources for students and developing protocols for prevention of mental health crises at schools.
The Select Committee will look at hardening school security systems and considering bolstering or implementing different practices for personnel involved with school safety and the security of students.
