School safety under scrutiny
By Steve Herring
Published in News on February 28, 2018 5:50 AM
Gun control.
Arming school teachers.
Both controversial proposals to thwart mass shootings -- such as the Feb. 14 school shooting in Parkland, Florida that left 17 people dead -- could crop up when the state's newly created bipartisan House Select Committee on School Safety begins its deliberations.
The committee, appointed by House Speaker Tim Moore, will examine safety standards and procedures throughout the state's elementary, middle and high schools in the wake of the Parkland shooting.
The committee also will need also to look at Christian and private schools, too, said committee member and House Majority Leader John Bell of Goldsboro.
The committee will consult with local governments, school systems and policy experts in a range of fields to address violence prevention, emergency management and security in North Carolina classrooms, Bell said.
Since the initial announcement Moore has added more House members because of the interest in the issue, Bell said.
Also, Moore is looking at possibly adding advisory members from across the state including law enforcement personnel, mental health personnel, school personnel, etc., he said.
Moore is still trying to lay the groundwork for all of that, Bell said.
"When he and I have talked about it and you can see there are people who want to make this about gun control and start that political debate," Bell said. "That doesn't do anything but divide people. We actually need to have solutions."
However, Bell stopped short of saying that gun control would not be discussed.
"I think if you automatically say we are not talking about this, this and this you limit the conversation," he said. "You want to have open conversation. At some point we have to take the politics out of it -- it is about keeping kids safe.
"I do expect the gun control debate to come up on how we address things in North Carolina. You can't help but not avoid that subject. We are going to have to narrow some of the conversation down."
Bell said what he would like to see happen is an examination of programs already in place across the state such as resource officers provided through sheriff's offices.
"We need to make sure those folks are qualified individuals," Bell said. "Do we arm them or not arm them? That will be a topic of conversation.
"But we have to look at the funding component to having those deputies in schools -- the cost to the county and school system. Can the state come in and put grants in place to supplement that funding to have that type of security in each school?"
Wayne County could take advantage of the large number of retired law enforcement and military personnel who have the necessary certification to be school resource officers, he said.
Bell said one of the problems he had not been aware of is that a sheriff can bring in a retired SBI agent or Highway Patrol trooper without hurting their state retirement.
But it could affect a deputy's retirement, he said.
Bell said that is something he wants to address because the county has a pool of talented and qualified retired law enforcement personnel.
The committee needs to look at policy and general statutes to remedy that, he said.
And rather than arming teachers, Bell said he thinks the state should look first at resource officers and what can be done with law enforcement.
"If you went the route of arming teachers, in my opinion I just think it is better if we do the law enforcement route because they are actually trained personnel," Bell said. "In my opinion that is where we start.
"Of course I think you will see this discussion come up at our committee, but my opinion ... is to use professionals who are equipped and have extensive training in this area. My hope is that we will actually put some really good programs in place in North Carolina that can help keep our kids safe."
One area talked about is that fire and tornado drills are mandatory in schools, but what about adding active shooter drills, he said.
That would be complemented by safety training for teachers and counselors on what to do in active shooter situations, he said.
Another idea is to review every school to find the weak points to address whether more cameras are needed or adding more secure locks where a person has to be buzzed into the school and cannot just walk in, he said.
There would be funding challenges behind those measures, but the issue is very important, Bell said.
"Hopefully we will have some answers by the short session," Bell said. "What do we do about mental health issues when numerous reports came in like they did down in Florida. How do we make sure those don't fall to the wayside?
"Then the thing which has actually happened in the Florida shooting, which to me is absolutely horrible, now you have people getting on social media and actually communicating false threats and doing copycat type threats."
Sheriff's offices are having to focus on those threats because they are taking all of them very serious, he said.
Bell said he was in a Monday night meeting where he talked with the sheriff in Pamlico County who has had to arrest someone for making those kinds of threats.
"In my talks with some of the district attorneys, do we need to review the statutes of what happens when somebody threatens a school?" he said. "Are the statutes in place strong enough or do we need to give the district attorneys the flexibility to prosecute those folks further?
"These are all things that I see this committee undertaking and reviewing."
Bell said that since the initial announcement that he had been appointed to the committee that he has received a number of suggestions and ideas.
He said he wants to continue to hear from people about any ideas they have.
"As a father, I am committed to ensuring the safety of our students and preventing such senseless tragedies from happening in North Carolina," Bell said. "This committee will provide us important insight from local school leaders, mental health experts and law enforcement agencies on the steps we can take to better secure our classrooms.
"In the aftermath of the Florida school shooting, it is critical that we hear all the ideas, concerns and expertise available to us on this vital issue. As elected officials, it is our duty to uphold the safety of our citizens and I look forward to working with my fellow committee members to identify solutions that will keep our students and teachers safe."