Over half of Kentucky schools do not have an SRO, as mandated by state law

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Over half of Kentucky faculties do not need a college useful resource officer on web site to reinforce faculty security, as mandated by state regulation. That is only one discovering from the State Faculty Safety Marshal’s annual report. 

2019’s SB 1, the Faculty Security and Resiliency Act, applied new safety packages for faculties. The most recent report from the State Faculty Safety Marshal, Ben Wilcox, discovered virtually all Kentucky faculties had been in compliance with the measures set forth in that regulation.

“Over 99.53% of colleges had been compliant with the entry management mandate set forth by the Faculty Security and Resiliency Act, which is implausible,” stated Wilcox. “Clearly, we’re at all times pushing for 100% compliance. We have now to have 100%, however having 99.53% is superb.”

Nevertheless, there have been two classes on this report displaying extra room for enchancment with regards to faculty security.

“The way forward for faculty security is one through which relationships are going to be the largest issue. We will lock all our doorways. We will examine individuals in on the entrance desk, however we’ve to have relationships in our faculties,” stated Wilcox.

Solely 44.8% of colleges presently have an SRO on each campus, as required underneath HB 63. Nevertheless, the regulation doesn’t provide you with any additional funding to workers these positions. 

Chris Barrier, director of regulation enforcement for Montgomery County Faculties, stated he wants two extra SROs in his district to be in compliance. The maintain up is the dearth of funding. For different districts, it’s recruitment.

“A lot of Kentucky is rural America, so the applicant pool to drag officers from the streets or their native jurisdictions into the college and SRO world is difficult as a result of the pool of candidates simply isn’t very deep,” stated Barrier. “Additionally, the funding sources simply aren’t there in lots of communities right here in Kentucky.”

There’s one other line of the report the place Kentucky faculties are lacking the mark. Solely 44% of colleges have one counselor or psychological well being supplier per each 250 college students.

“We have now to have psychological well being help for our youngsters and our workers. Everybody has to proceed to work collectively to seek out out and know what’s going on in your faculty. That’s going to be the largest issue with faculty security,” stated Wilcox.

Wilcox stated subsequent steps embody working with faculty districts to determine hurdles and get rid of limitations to compliance. You may learn the total report right here.