Voice: November 2018

Many suggestions PSEA members made are reflected in a report issued by the Pennsylvania School Safety Task Force.

“The fact that elected leaders of both parties are listening to educators who work in our schools is good news,’’ said PSEA President Dolores McCracken, a member of the task force. “These are the professionals who best understand how our schools work and are best positioned to identify proactive steps we can take to stop the unthinkable before it happens.’’

The task force, which was formed by Gov. Tom Wolf following last February’s shootings at a high school in Parkland, Florida, included educators, parents, students, certified school nurses and other health care professionals, government officials, law enforcement and public safety officials, and community members.

It held several public hearings across the state before issuing its report in August.

In addition to serving on the task force, McCracken also testified before the House Education Committee last spring and presented “Safe Havens of Learning: PSEA policy recommendations to enhance safety in PA schools.’’

The recommendations, which are based on the suggestions of 1,000 PSEA members, can be viewed at www.psea.org/schoolsafety. Many are part of the findings put forth by the statewide task force.

One concrete step that has already been taken is bipartisan legislation signed by Wolf that features $60 million in school safety grants for various programs designed to meet specific, local needs.

It also includes the Safe2Say initiative in which educators, students, and community members can report threats of violence or bullying in a safe and anonymous way.

“We’ve made a tremendous amount of progress in a short period of time,’’ McCracken said. “But we have much more to do, and the task force’s recommendations provide a roadmap.’’

She noted that what she heard from those attending the task force’s six public meetings reflected much of what PSEA members have been saying.

“There is no one-size-fits-all approach to improving school safety,’’ McCracken said. “We need to consider everything from school wellness to the security of school buildings to partnerships with community leaders and law enforcement. Every school district in Pennsylvania must have the resources it needs to hire staff and identify its specific, local needs.’’ 

Key findings of the Pennsylvania School Safety Task Force

• Improve communication and information sharing
• Enhance social and emotional learning for students
• Increase the number of physical and mental health professionals in schools
• Increase access to mental health services
• Strengthen school security
• Build connections to the community
• Integrate law enforcement and school resource officers
• Provide actionable guidance and information to help schools determine priorities
• Increase school funding
• Utilize training

To view the report, go to www.psea.org/schoolsafety for more information.