Governor McDonnell Assembles School Safety Task Force
Members tasked with reviewing, making recommendations about safety in Virginia schools.
A state task force designed to review school safety procedures and make recommendations for any improvements at Virginia's schools -- created in the wake of the December shootings at an elementary school in Newtown, Conn. -- is set to begin next week, after Gov. Bob McDonnell named 45 people to the group Wednesday.
Shortly after the shootings, which left 26 students and educators dead, Gov. Bob McDonnell issued Executive Order 56 establishing a multidisciplinary task force to review school and campus safety.
In addition to several state legislators, law enforcement officials and mental health and safety experts, the task force also includes k through 12 and university-level educators and administrators, two students and the father of a victim in the 2007 Virginia Tech shootings.
“I am thankful that this dedicated group of leaders and experts has agreed to work on the important issue of keeping our schools safe," McDonnell said Wednesday in a news release.
The group will review school safety, including:
- established policies and procedures
- crisis and emergency management plans
- threat assessment protocols
- sharing best practices
- identifying resource challenges
The group is also tasked with providing legislative and budget proposals to the governor to address gaps or needs associated with safety and security at schools and campuses, according to the governor's news release.
The task force is expected to send initial recommendations to the governor no later than Jan. 31. It will continue to make recommendations on an ongoing basis and provide a final report on all aspects of the executive order to the governor no later than June 30, so recommended actions can be implemented before the new school year begins.
"As a Commonwealth, we must evaluate safety in our schools and ensure that we are providing our young people with the best opportunity to learn," he said. "I am confident this group will develop thoughtful recommendations that will ensure a safe learning environment for our students.”
Guns in schools and school safety are expected to be among the most heated topics in this year's Virginia General Assembly, which began as the governor's announcement was released Wednesday.
Twenty-one bills on gun control were filed by Virginia House and Senate members this session; nine of them are already dead.
One of the bills to take the spotlight so far: A proposal from Prince William County's Del. Robert G. Marshall (R-13th) to arm school personnel, requiring every school board in the state to "designate at least one qualified person for every school in the district who, upon application with the school board, may carry a concealed handgun on school property."
The bill does not limit school boards to a single designee, but all those appointed to carry guns — school division employees, volunteers, or retired law-enforcement officers — would have to be trained and certified by the Virginia Center for School Safety or the National Rifle Association,according to the bill.
In Fairfax County, one teachers union has launched its own survey on school safety to solicit opinions of classroom educators. It closes Jan. 16.
Frederick C. Cassiday
9:27 am on Sunday, January 13, 2013
I am a Life Member of NRA and a 30+year retired military man. I am absolutely opposed to putting more guns in our society. Especially weapons used by the military. They have no place in schools or no usefulness other than to kill people. Firearms as a 2nd amendment right should be limited to black powder muskets that were available when the constitution was written. Only people who have gone thru extensive training such as the military, police or protective services should be allowed to own more capable weapons, and then only after an extensive background check, waiting period and psychological testing. Our schools should not become Gun fight at the OK corral, which would put children in the middle of a fire fight. Our great leader Wayne LaPierre states the only way to stop a bad guy with a gun is by a good guy with a gun. I say lets keep the gun out of the bad guys hands in the first place. We have too many out there now. And for those of you who don't think Democracy is working unless there is the threat of armed rebellion, I would ask if you have ever heard the word "sedition"? Civilized societies vote with ballots not bullets. You want guns in schools? Go to Afghanistan.
Matthew
10:49 am on Monday, January 14, 2013
Where in the 2nd Amendment does it say "Black Powder Muskets?" What about hunting, target shooting, etc. I have a buddy who owns 4 AR style rifles who so far has managed not to harm a single living soul with them. Furthermore, your idea that only military, police or protective services should have firearms is illogical and absurd. Police only respond to crime - when seconds count the police are minutes away. How are we going to keep the guns out of the bad guys hands? They already break laws to acquire them (or if they are Cartel members they get them from OUR GOVERNMENT vis a vis the Justice Department). The overwhelming majority of firearm violence is committed with illegally owned handguns as a result of gang violence related to the illicit drug trade. I respect you for serving in the military but your argument is short-sighted. As for firearms in schools, why not have a uniformed, armed resource officer who has extra training to be sensitive to children (also a resource for kids who want to become law enforcement officers and serve their communities) or have some of the office staff receive extra training to be auxiliary police officers or deputy sheriffs. We do similar things for the airline industry since 9/11. Civilized Societies vot with ballots not bullets - all dictatorships / communist regimes began with the banning of individual ownership of firearms (Hitler, Stalin, Mao, Chavez, etc.) You need to brush up on your facts.
Keith Best
12:51 pm on Monday, January 14, 2013
God forbid a school bus driver wants to kill himself and drives over a cliff with a busload of kids. Should we ban the school bus?
Frederick C. Cassiday
6:06 pm on Monday, January 14, 2013
Gun manufacturers abducted the NRA back in 1977 and that is a fact. As to logic, how in the world is there any logic in 30,000 gun deaths a year. Statistics don't lie. The more guns available, the more gun deaths. Don't let the paranoia pitch of the NRA dupe you into thinking you need a gun to protect yourself from the government. As to the bus driver, he goes thru a lot more background checks and requirements than anyone buying a gun.
John Strother
10:50 am on Tuesday, January 22, 2013
I just can't seem to grasp all the above comments. Here in the Washington DC area, we have not had a school shooting. Seems the system we have now is working. Why fix something that isn't broke? 30,000 deaths by guns, where? Not in Fairfax County, Not in Virginia alone. You must mean nation wide. With how many Millions of people, what percent of the populace is that 30,000? Less than 1 %? I think drunks kill just as many behind the wheel of a car.
Frederick C. Cassiday
9:07 pm on Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Think the kids going to Anacostia don't get shot. Oh, that's right, that's them and this is us. Typical myopia to view the world in suburban terms until a Newtown Ct. happens right here. My view of the NRA leadership is that they do not represent me as a Life Member of the NRA, when they call for more guns in schools. Ever seen a firefight? Imagine one going on while screaming children are running for their lives. Only way to stop a bad guy with a gun, is a good guy with a gun? I still say, don't have so many uncontrolled firearms in the hands of people that have no business having them. The NRA talks out of both sides of their mouth when they say existing laws are enough, while behind the scenes they are stifling the ATF and gun dealer checks at every opportunity. They represent the gun manufacturers, not the citizens that are members.