Increasing school safety would be the focus of a new position created under a bill heard by the Education Committee Jan. 27.<\/p>\n
LB872, introduced by Omaha Sen. Rick Kolowski, would create the position of statewide school security director within the state Department of Education. The director\u2019s responsibilities would include:
\n\u2022 collecting safety and security plans from each school district;
\n\u2022 recommending minimum standards and encouraging their adoption by the department;
\n\u2022 conducting a security assessment of every school;
\n\u2022 identifying deficiencies and recommending remedies; and
\n\u2022 establishing security awareness and preparedness tools and training programs for public school staff and students.<\/p>\n
Kolowski said families across the state are looking to legislators for leadership on the issue of school security.<\/p>\n
\u201cEach student is entitled to a school environment that is free from violence, abuse and fear,\u201d he said. \u201cWe need to show our commitment to keeping their schools safe.\u201d<\/p>\n
Brian Halstead, representing the state Department of Education, supported the bill, saying it would address just one part of school safety.<\/p>\n
\u201cCurrently we have no staff members that have training or background in safety and security,\u201d he said. \u201cIf we have the resources to assist to attempt to address this on a systematic basis, we want to.\u201d<\/p>\n
Representing the Nebraska State Education Association, Larry Scherer testified in support of the bill.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe issue of safety and security needs to be paramount and this is a good first step,\u201d Scherer said.<\/p>\n
No one testified in opposition to the bill and the committee took no immediate action on it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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