school safety
Arkansas lawmakers approve emergency rules for school-safety grant funding
The Arkansas Legislative Council’s executive subcommittee on Thursday approved emergency rules that will allow the disbursement of $50 million for a school-safety grant program. “If we can get these approved, then that will assist us in getting the money out to school districts sooner so that they can start putting these different safety measures in […]
School Safety Commission adopts final proposals before report due date
The Arkansas School Safety Commission wrapped up four months of work by approving seven more recommendations at its final meeting Tuesday. Its final report to the governor is due Oct. 1. Three proposals at Tuesday’s meeting focused on cybersecurity and included recommendations for school districts to implement best practices in third-party risk management and cybersecurity […]
School safety panel recommends funding to help implement proposals
The Arkansas School Safety Commission approved two recommendations Wednesday aimed at providing funding to support best practices included in the group’s final report, which is due by Oct. 1. “I don’t think that we can walk away from this table without trying to get our schools some additional financial help because we’re asking them to […]
School Safety Commission recommends cybersecurity training, confidential tip line
The Arkansas School Safety Commission addressed cybersecurity concerns during its meeting Tuesday, approving a recommendation that would require anyone who uses district-issued digital devices to receive annual cybersecurity awareness training. The commission plans to release a final report on its recommendations to the governor by Oct. 1. While school safety is often focused on physical […]
School Safety Commission recommends support for anti-bullying and inclusive classrooms
The Arkansas School Safety Commission adopted eight more recommendations Tuesday, including one to provide access to training and support for programs that deter bullying and create an inclusive classroom environment. These initiatives can provide better ways to provide intervention and assistance to students who need it, said commissioner Lori Poston, vice president of clinical services […]
School safety panel proposes hardening schools, improving mental health response
The Arkansas School Safety Commission adopted a dozen recommendations Tuesday aimed at hardening schools against intrusion and making sure staff and teachers are trained to respond not only to physical threats but also to students in mental distress. Commissioners voted to recommend that school campuses “should always have armed personnel when staff and students are […]
$50M set aside for school security grant program
Arkansas legislators last week set aside $50 million for a school-safety grant program for which the rules have yet to be written. At least one legislator said the size of the grant program could grow during next year’s General Assembly. “I don’t think $50 million is the final price tag,” Rep. Lane Jean, co-chair of […]
To prevent shootings, teachers need to be armed with information, not guns
By Matthew T. Mangino Schools do not need more resource officers, armed guards or for that matter armed teachers. Schools need to become adept at gathering information, sharing intelligence and, most importantly, making sense of what they learn. In Uvalde, Texas, we’ve learned far too well that good guys — many good guys — with […]