Gov. Jay Inslee signed legislation Friday that calls on school districts to start regional school safety and security programs so schools across the state are prepared for emergencies like fires, earthquakes or active-shooter situations.
State Sen. Rosemary McAuliffe, who sponsored the new law in the legislature, said Friday that it “provides a foundation for school-safety-and-security programs that address the essential elements of school safety expected by parents, students and educators.”
McAuliffe represents most of Mountlake Terrace, all of Brier and Bothell, and the rest of the 1st Legislative District north, south and east of Bothell. She is the ranking Democratic member of the State Senate committee on early learning and K-12 education.
She said that the bill establishes an annual school-safety summit with the goal of strengthening partnerships between educators, parents, and emergency organizations.
“The annual summit established by my bill aims to foster a high-level meeting of key stakeholders,” McAuliffe said. “Each of our school districts is unique and has different strengths and vulnerabilities that should be addressed collaboratively. This bill would empower school officials to come together with law enforcement and emergency response organizations to achieve safety goals that fit their unique needs.”
The bill directs the Washington State Institute of Public Policy to evaluate how Washington and other states support school-safety-and-security programs. That report is due at the end of 2017.
“Keeping our kids safe while they’re at school is just as important as making sure we are providing a world-class education,” said McAuliffe. “Parents deserve the certainty that their children are safe from the moment they say goodbye in the morning until they get home from school at night.”
Evan Smith can be reached at schsmith@frontier.com.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
