Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 13, 1999
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Locke proposes school safety initiatives

OLYMPIA — Gov. Gary Locke today proposed $9 million in initiatives to make Washington schools safer and to educate students, schools and parents on the warning signs of school violence.

"We know that Washington schools are not immune from incidents of school violence that have shaken the nation, striking fear in students and their parents," Locke said. "We must take reasonable steps to restore safe and secure learning environments in our schools."

Locke asked the legislature to approve in next week's special session his three-prong plan to fight school violence. The proposal includes $7 million in school-safety grants for public schools, plus an outreach program to help students, schools and families help each other put a stop to school violence.

"Students can't learn when they are afraid violence could explode in their schools any minute," Locke said. "And parents who send their children off to school should not be left wondering if they've sent their children off to a killing field."

Superintendent of Public Instruction Terry Bergeson and Attorney General Christine Gregoire joined Locke in urging the legislature to approve in next week's special session school safety initiatives that will provide:

- $7 million in grants, which will match local funds, for school districts that partner with community-based organizations and local police to establish school safety programs based on proven strategies.

- $2 million for outreach programs to help schools develop and evaluate school safety programs, educate children and adults on the warning signs of youth violence, enable Americorps volunteers to intervene and provide counseling to disruptive youth, and provide guidelines to help parents identify video games with themes too violent for their children.

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