News Releases
Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - September 5, 2000
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Gov. Locke to propose comprehensive school safety legislation

OLYMPIA - Declaring the children's safety was his highest priority, Gov. Gary Locke this week announced a comprehensive safety program that will be submitted to the 2001 Legislature for approval and funding.

"Keeping our children safe means school must be a place to learn, and never a place to fear," Locke said.

The governor also called upon the entire community to protect school children because no small group of adults, or even state government, could handle the huge challenge of potential violence in this dangerous age.

The governor warned that without community involvement, "We'll never break through the code of silence that exists in some schools. And it is these codes of silence that allow disrespect, bullying, harassment and ultimately violence to occur."

"We won't see the danger signals and we won't provide the help a troubled child needs if we don't all work on this program together," Locke said.

The governor said he would ask the 2001 Legislature for the following:

Having each school district write a comprehensive safe school plan. The proposal will include what should be in the plans and address earthquakes and other hazards as well as violence

Having each school district conduct school safety plan review every two years

Establishing a small office in the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to help school districts develop the most effective safety policies and procedures. The office will disseminate information and advice and review safety programs

Having schools develop and carry out "all hazards" drills so teachers and students are prepared

Conducting mental health evaluations for students arrested for threatening other students or teachers and detaining them. Currently, evaluations are conducted only for pupils arrested for bringing firearms to school.

Having each school district adopt policies to detect and control bullying and harassment of students. The legislation, being developed with Attorney General Christine Gregoire, would have the Office of the Superintendent Public Instruction develop statewide criteria for school boards to use in creating anti-bullying and anti-harassment policies

Establishing a statewide 1-800 safety helpline by which pupils can anonymously report concerns or fears

Increasing funding for programs to improve traffic safety near schools, including funding for local law enforcement officers to be nearby as youngsters arrive at and leave school

This new legislation will augment programs enacted by the governor and Legislature last year that provided $23.6 million this year and last to beef up school security. Among the steps taken were the creation of schools for kids expelled from regular classrooms; hiring security personnel; training teachers to deal with disruptive students; conducting safety planning and providing prevention and intervention grants.

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