Enhancing School Safety
Before the legislature took a quick break for Easter & Passover, we unveiled a legislative package aimed at putting student safety first. We have taken a multifaceted approach that includes more resources to meet the needs of students and schools statewide which includes everything from hiring more school resource officers, student counselors and mental health professionals to making critical building security upgrades.
In total, House Republicans are proposing approximately $50 million for mental health and school safety funding. This is on top of other increases in mental health services and school safety the legislature has passed over the last few years.
We spoke with school officials, teachers, parents, and students about what we can do to make our schools safe. By listening to our local communities, we have come up with proposals to address the unique needs of our local schools. Our multipronged approach enhances school security, addresses student mental health, and provides our districts with needed funding and flexibility to keep our kids safe.
I am a co-author on many of the following proposals that are currently advancing through the public committee process:
- School resource officers, student support personnel, and other school security programs funded through increased Safe Schools revenue, including a floor level of funding for small schools.
- School building security upgrades, and expanded use of Long-Term Facility Maintenance revenue for security projects, including emergency communications systems.
- School-linked mental health programming to ensure better outcomes for all kids.
- Physical security audit grants to provide state assistance to review facility security and crisis management policies.
- Suicide prevention training for teachers to help educators learn how to engage and assist students experiencing mental distress.
- School-based threat assessment teams established to assess, intervene, and report threats facing students, teachers, and staff.
I am proud of the package we have put forward and am committed to moving forward to bring these key reforms into law. Protecting our kids and making our schools safer is something that transcends any political divide.
If you have any questions feel free to call me at 651-296-4192 or share your thoughts by emailing me at rep.regina.barr@house.mn or stop by and visit me at my office.
Rep. Regina Barr, Inver Grove Heights
House District 52B