Suicide prevention training advanced
School staff members would receive annual training on suicide awareness and prevention under a bill advanced from general file March 25.
Under LB923, introduced by Lincoln Sen. Amanda McGill, all public school nurses, teachers, counselors, school psychologists and administrators would receive at least one hour of training each year, beginning with the 2014-15 school year. McGill said 14 other states currently require similar training.
“Our state really does nothing when it comes to suicide prevention in our schools,” she said. “This is part of a greater conversation happening about mental health in Nebraska and across our country. This bill is intended to potentially save lives.”
The required training would be included under the existing in-service training framework required by the state Department of Education or as part of required professional development activities. The department would be required to collaborate with appropriate organizations and experts to develop a list of approved training materials.
Cedar Rapids Sen. Kate Sullivan said there are new issues facing school districts.
“Ten or 15 years ago we never thought we’d be talking about some of these topics,” she said. “These are real issues that school districts are talking about. There is value in having someone look at what the school districts are doing and sharing best practices.”
An Education Committee amendment, adopted 28-1, would add school social workers to the list of school personnel to receive the required training.
The amendment also incorporated provisions of LB872, originally introduced by Omaha Sen. Rick Kolowski. It would create the position of state school security director under the department. The director’s duties would include:
• collecting safety and security plans from each school system;
• recommending minimum standards for school security;
• conducting an assessment of the security of each public school building;
• identifying deficiencies in school security based on the minimum standards adopted by the state;
• establishing security awareness and preparedness tools and training programs for public school staff;
• establishing research-based model instructional programs for staff, students and parents to address causes for violent attacks on schools; and
• overseeing suicide awareness and prevention training.
Kolowski said school safety continues to be an important priority in the wake of recent school violence.
“We continue to hear in the news of more acts of violence in schools,” he said. “Families and schools are looking to their lawmakers for leadership. [This bill] is an important first step for our state to ensure Nebraska schools have safe learning environments.”
A Kolowski amendment to the committee amendment, adopted 28-1, would delay the implementation of the school security director’s duties until Jan. 1, 2015. It also would require that the director’s initial assessment of state school security be completed by Aug. 31, 2017.
Senators advanced the bill to select file on a 30-0 vote.
