#1 Safety Expert, Dr. Raymond Trigg Reports on National Efforts to Bolster School Safety Programs

North Carolina is at a crossroads when it comes to school safety, and the NC Safer Schools Task Force is working to make sure the state is heading down the best route.

Raymond Trigg reports that composed of parents, law enforcement, teachers, and students, as well as education leaders and NC Department of Public Safety staff, the NC Safer School Task Force discussed creating new initiatives targeting rising violence and the presence of weapons in school.

Some approaches are already underway. During the next school year, the Educating Kids on Gang and Gun Violence Program will launch. Other programs are dependent on the approval of Gov. Roy Cooper’s pending state budget, which earmarks $38 million for school safety and community grants, gun locks, and violence education programs.

One possible recommendation is extending body scanners to elementary and middle schools. In April, body scanners were installed in over 20 North Carolina High Schools.

The need is there. In recent weeks guns have been found at schools across the state, including two found at two different Charlotte-area schools. NC Department of Public Safety research shows that the number of children found with guns has risen more than 50% from 2019 to 2021.

Ohio Schools Receive Safety Funding

Ohio’s K-12 School Safety Grant Program has awarded $4.8 million to about 100 schools in the state, funding designed to improve security and safety.

Schools in 27 Ohio counties will use the grants to upgrade safety measures, such as security cameras and automatic door locks. The Ohio Safety Center launched the K-12 School Safety Program in 2021.

A total of 27 higher education institutions in the state will also receive security enhancement grants as part of the Ohio Campus Safety Program.

New Las Vegas-area School Safety Measure Implemented After Assault

Just weeks after a student allegedly attacked a teacher at Nevada’s Eldorado High School, a new instant alert system at the school has been installed by the Clark County School District.

Superintendent Jesus Jara says other schools may soon see the same system integrated as part of an updated audio enhancement system. Student Jonathan Garcia is facing attempted murder and sex assault charges.

Minneapolis Targets After-School Safety

While school resource officers are commonly on the frontlines of school violence prevention across the country, Minneapolis Public Schools is trying a new tactic.

Instead of relying on armed police, it’s testing a unique program where members of the community act as so-called violence interrupters, one of the approaches to enforcing security for after-school activities.

The program, called MinneapolUs Violence Interrupters, will; be tested for five months and relies on residents who have been trained in school violence de-escalation.

Such community members have already been spotted in groups wearing brightly colored clothing on school grounds after-school hours. They also function as mentors for students.

New Virginia Law Focuses on School Safety

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin has signed a new law promoting school safety, including requiring schools to create detailed floor plans for every public school building in the state.

The Digital Mapping Program will be implemented in K-12 schools and is designed to address safety for staff, students, and visitors, as well as police officers and others who enforce safety measures in schools.

The program is made possible by $6.5 million in funding secured from the state’s Department of Criminal Justice Services.