Washington passes legislation to make schools safer
WASHINGTON -- New legislation in Olympia aims to keep your kids safer at school and prevent violence before it starts.
This week, the Washington State Senate approved a bill that would set aside $10 million dollars for security improvements at schools. It's all a part of a $475 million investment in building new schools. The main purchase will be silent panic alarms that call police. Lawmakers believe it will significantly improve police response times to schools.
Local parent, Jeremy Frum says, "Anything to help save the kids, keep them safe, keep the teachers safe. I got one that's 18 and one that's 13. Girls. So hopefully they'll be safer in school now."
The $10 million will be awarded over the next two years.
This week, the Washington State Senate approved a bill that would set aside $10 million dollars for security improvements at schools. It's all a part of a $475 million investment in building new schools. The main purchase will be silent panic alarms that call police. Lawmakers believe it will significantly improve police response times to schools.
Local parent, Jeremy Frum says, "Anything to help save the kids, keep them safe, keep the teachers safe. I got one that's 18 and one that's 13. Girls. So hopefully they'll be safer in school now."
The $10 million will be awarded over the next two years.
How about taking steps to PRECLUDE the event .. rather than responding AFTER the massacre occurs. If you define "SAFER" by added 'silent panic' alarms to be used AFTER security has been breached and the even has occurred ...it's NOT a security improvement. Â
At best .. it's a response improvement .. to take care of the dead and dying and perhaps capturing the perpetrator. "Improving response" is a red herring not worth $10M. And remember ... each 'false alarm' will have an expense as well that's not factored into the $10M i.e. lock downs, shut downs, parents picking up their kids, etc. etc. etc.  It's already become almost a 'way of life' for our students. Â
We're 'great' at reacting and turning such regrettable incidents into 'news-worthiness' but when it comes to PREVENTION .. we just don't know what to do. And sadly we all know what has to be done but don't have the will to do it. Â
So I guess we'll let the carnage continue .... and throw more $$$$ into 'response' to demonstrate to the voters that 'something' is being done.