‘I just want to be safe in school:’ Kentucky students discuss safety after Texas shooting

FRANKFORT , Ky. (WKYT) – In wake of the varsity taking pictures in Uvalde, Texas, college students on the Kentucky Division of Training’s Commissioner’s Scholar Advisory Council opened up about their security issues, and labored to develop coverage recommendations for college security.

The panel consists of 30 college students from districts throughout Kentucky.

“In all the debates which are taking place nationally it appeared to me that the coed voice just isn’t current within the dialog,” stated Kentucky Commissioner of Training Jason Glass, as he opened the dialogue.

“I feel it’s actually scary as a pupil that we apply all of those drills, that we apply purple codes and lockdowns, for the potential of this turning into a actuality and it’s nonetheless taking place, regardless of our efforts to be protected in class,” stated JuLeah Edie, a current graduate of Rowan County Excessive Faculty. “I simply wish to be protected in class.”

“It bothers me that the US is the one nation the place college shootings are taking place constantly,” stated Raima Dutt, a junior at duPont Guide Excessive Faculty in Jefferson County. “Within the U.S., weapons have change into politicized, which permits no progress to be made in stopping the difficulty from taking place sooner or later.”

“I feel it begs the query, why are colleges targets?” one pupil stated. “I imply these are kids who’ve their entire life forward of them, these are civil servants who’ve devoted many years of their lives to the development of their communities and the development of the lives of their college students.”

The scholars additionally labored in small teams to share their ideas on coverage suggestions. They mentioned subjects like background checks for gun purchases, early warning techniques, regulation enforcement coaching, psychological well being helps and unfunded legislative mandates concerning college useful resource officers in Kentucky colleges.

Starting August 1, a brand new state regulation would require college districts to assign SROs to every college.

The scholars developed three classes that might focus subjects of curiosity. They embrace: proactive occasions earlier than a college taking pictures; actions within the occasion of an lively shooter; and restoration from the consequences of a college taking pictures.

The council will work extra on these subjects over the summer time and fall, and put collectively a collective coverage advice for legislators and different schooling stakeholders.

Copyright 2022 WKYT. All rights reserved.