Testifiers highlight programs which keep students and teachers safe 

HARRISBURG, Oct. 10  – School safety administrators, resource officers, advocates and representatives from Pennsylvania agencies detailed the actions and programs they have undertaken to protect students, teachers and faculty from violence today during a House Education Committee hearing on school safety and security.

“School safety does not just mean safety from gun violence but the protection from and prevention of all forms of violence on school grounds,” said state Rep. Peter Schweyer, Majority Chair of the House Education Committee. “School safety is a multi-faceted issue that requires multi-faceted solutions and collaborations. I am pleased to see these agencies and administrators coming together today to have a meaningful conversation on how school safety currently looks across Pennsylvania and what we can do to continue to build on and improve our policies to ensure the safety of our children and teachers.”

Thursday’s hearing at the state Capitol in Harrisburg featured testifiers from Sandy Hook Promise, The District Security Officer for the Bethlehem Area School District, the Superintendent of Northeastern School District, as well as members of the Pennsylvania State Police and the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency.

Testifiers detailed the various programs and incentives school districts and administrators are undertaking to ensure the safest and secure learning environments are available for their children and staff.

” Over the past two decades, schools have enhanced their security infrastructure with features like electronic locks, surveillance systems, and controlled building access. However, these advancements require the human element that SROs provide. New threats such as cyberbullying, mental health crises, and the growing accessibility of weapons necessitate the presence of SROs to maintain a safe school environment. Their combination of law enforcement skills and mentorship makes them indispensable in responding to modern challenges,” said Kevin Mengel, School Resource Officer for the Spring Grove School District.

”Despite the Commonwealth’s significant progress in school safety programs and policies since 2018, there are still critical areas that need further attention to fully protect and support students and staff,” said Mike Pennington, Executive Director, Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency. “To address these challenges, PCCD and the School Safety and Security Committee are committed to continuing to evaluate and revise school safety trainings, guidelines, and baseline criteria based on the needs and feedback of schools, law enforcement, and other stakeholders.”

The testimony from this hearing and other House Education Committee hearings can be found here.

Information provided to TVL by:
Thomas LeClair