From The Trussville Tribune staff reports
MONTGOMERY — Speaking from the Alabama State Capitol in Montgomery, Governor Kay Ivey announced new safety initiatives to prevent violence from taking place on school campuses. This comes after the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting on Feb. 14 and a wave of threats that have been made against schools in recent times.
Ivey said that she recently went to Washington D.C. where she saw Florida Governor Rick Scott speak on his experience with the tragedy.
“We must resist the temptation for knee-jerk reactions,” she said at the press conference, outlining what she called a “four-pronged” approach to school safety in Alabama.
The first approach is to back a legislation to give more funds to school that will allow them to hire more security. The second is to help teachers and parents identify potential threats, emphasizing the phrase, “if you see something, say something”. She also said that plans should be in place for law enforcement and mental health officials to help students who are at risk for committing violence.
The third involves better preparation for emergencies before they occur, calling for schools to standardize plans in case a crisis happens. The fourth prong will have Ivey sign an executive order for the council, dubbed Securing Alabama Facilities of Education or SAFE that will outline more plans for school safety and are required to report to the governor by April 30 to recommend steps.
“Folks, we cannot afford to get this wrong,” she said. “It’s ambitious but it’s based on sound resources. We must ensure that plans are implemented and not sitting on a shelf.”
Ivey stressed time as a factor in ensuring school safety.
“Now is the time to act,” she said. “We simply cannot wait. I’m not content to allow violence to become the norm. And I’m sure you’re not either.”