US States Aim to Increase School Safety after Shootings
2023-04-12
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1An elementary school shooting in the U.S. state of Tennessee recently left three 9-year-olds and three adults dead.
2Now, state legislatures across the country are moving forward with bills aiming to improve school safety.
3The bills have been introduced in both liberal and conservative states.
4Some bills would require schools to put in place technology like panic alerts, security cameras and emergency communications systems.
5Lawmakers see the bills as a way to improve school security while avoiding the dispute over gun control.
6But some experts say teacher safety training is more effective and less costly than the new technologies.
7Democratic state lawmakers have called for tighter gun laws to prevent school shootings.
8But many are now also supporting the school emergency measures that have largely been pushed by Republicans.
9In the northwestern state of Oregon, Democrats control the legislature.
10A bill there would require schools to send electronic warnings to parents as soon as possible after a safety threat.
11It passed the state House of Representatives with support from all lawmakers.
12Two Democratic lawmakers are the main writers of another bill that would require all public school classrooms to have panic alert devices.
13They would contact police or other emergency services when used.
14If passed, the panic alert bill would make Oregon the fourth state to pass the law.
15Florida, New Jersey and New York have all passed it.
16Several other states are considering similar legislation.
17Panic alert devices started being used more after the 2018 mass shooting at a high school in Parkland, Florida.
18Lori Alhadeff's 14-year-old daughter, Alyssa, was among the 17 killed.
19She started the group Make Our Schools Safe and began supporting panic devices.
20She had texted her daughter as shots were fired that help was on the way.
21"There's really nothing to lose by being prepared," said Lori Kitaygorodsky, the group's spokesperson.
22Some Republican-led states have approved more money for school safety to help schools pay for new devices like panic buttons.
23CrisisAlert, for example, costs at least $8,000 per school for a three-to five-year contract, said Will Fullerton.
24He works for Centegix, the company that makes the product.
25After a shooter killed 19 children and two teachers last May at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, state officials announced $105 million for school safety and mental health programs.
26Nearly half of that was given for bullet-resistant protection for school police.
27Seventeen million dollars was for school systems to purchase panic-alert technology.
28The Missouri House recently approved a 2024 budget with $50 million for school safety funds.
29That is on top of the $20 million already approved for school safety in the current year.
30Schools will be able to use the money on technology including door locking devices, communication systems and video surveillance equipment.
31Ken Trump is the president of National School Safety and Security Services.
32The group advises schools on safety measures.
33He said lawmakers often make one-time purchases of new technology,
34but do not fund the technology over longer periods of time for things like repairs.
35"There's no budget to repair, replace and maintain them after they put them in," Trump said.
36He said the tools are often not properly used.
37He added that schools should center on training teachers to identify and recognize dangerous situations and make thoughtful decisions under stress.
38I'm Dan Novak.
1An elementary school shooting in the U.S. state of Tennessee recently left three 9-year-olds and three adults dead. Now, state legislatures across the country are moving forward with bills aiming to improve school safety. 2The bills have been introduced in both liberal and conservative states. Some bills would require schools to put in place technology like panic alerts, security cameras and emergency communications systems. 3Lawmakers see the bills as a way to improve school security while avoiding the dispute over gun control. But some experts say teacher safety training is more effective and less costly than the new technologies. 4Democratic state lawmakers have called for tighter gun laws to prevent school shootings. But many are now also supporting the school emergency measures that have largely been pushed by Republicans. 5In the northwestern state of Oregon, Democrats control the legislature. A bill there would require schools to send electronic warnings to parents as soon as possible after a safety threat. It passed the state House of Representatives with support from all lawmakers. Two Democratic lawmakers are the main writers of another bill that would require all public school classrooms to have panic alert devices. They would contact police or other emergency services when used. 6If passed, the panic alert bill would make Oregon the fourth state to pass the law. Florida, New Jersey and New York have all passed it. Several other states are considering similar legislation. 7Panic alert devices started being used more after the 2018 mass shooting at a high school in Parkland, Florida. 8Lori Alhadeff's 14-year-old daughter, Alyssa, was among the 17 killed. She started the group Make Our Schools Safe and began supporting panic devices. She had texted her daughter as shots were fired that help was on the way. 9"There's really nothing to lose by being prepared," said Lori Kitaygorodsky, the group's spokesperson. 10Some Republican-led states have approved more money for school safety to help schools pay for new devices like panic buttons. CrisisAlert, for example, costs at least $8,000 per school for a three-to five-year contract, said Will Fullerton. He works for Centegix, the company that makes the product. 11After a shooter killed 19 children and two teachers last May at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, state officials announced $105 million for school safety and mental health programs. Nearly half of that was given for bullet-resistant protection for school police. Seventeen million dollars was for school systems to purchase panic-alert technology. 12The Missouri House recently approved a 2024 budget with $50 million for school safety funds. That is on top of the $20 million already approved for school safety in the current year. Schools will be able to use the money on technology including door locking devices, communication systems and video surveillance equipment. 13Ken Trump is the president of National School Safety and Security Services. The group advises schools on safety measures. He said lawmakers often make one-time purchases of new technology, but do not fund the technology over longer periods of time for things like repairs. 14"There's no budget to repair, replace and maintain them after they put them in," Trump said. 15He said the tools are often not properly used. He added that schools should center on training teachers to identify and recognize dangerous situations and make thoughtful decisions under stress. 16I'm Dan Novak. 17Dan Novak adapted this story for VOA Learning English based on reporting by The Associated Press. 18______________________________________________________________________ 19Words in This Story 20panic - n. a state or feeling of extreme fear that makes someone unable to act or think normally 21surveillance - n. the act of carefully watching someone or something especially in order to prevent or detect a crime 22maintain - v. to cause (something) to exist or continue without changing 23situation- n. all of the facts, conditions, and events that affect someone or something at a particular time and in a particular place 24stress - n. a state of mental tension and worry caused by problems in your life, work, etc.