Texas’ Senate education chairman Sen. Larry Taylor unveiled a school safety measure that touches on strengthening school security, hardening school infrastructure and emphasizing mental health resources.
With the new program, visitors to the Smith Elementary School campus stand in front of a security camera, press a button and wait for an office attendant to respond.
All newborns at the hospital are now outfitted with a lightweight, self-adjusting bracelet that includes an RFID chip. According to Sue Snowdon, Program Coordinator of the Women and Child Care Unit, the RFID chip can be used to track the infant if a person leaves the unit with a baby.
The legislation will allow NY teachers and school officials to alert a judge about students they worry could pose a threat to themselves or others.
Police had been called to the campus 18 times as of Feb. 1, and police reports showed that a teacher was hurt in October while trying to stop a fight between two students. In early February the school committee voted to create a subcommittee focused on the problems at the school.
RUSD will begin installing signs at each of its high school buildings this week, alerting entrants that they could be subject to security scans. Officials then plan to communicate with students and families about the use of metal detectors and the district’s policy before they go into use.
In case of an emergency, students can press the POM button three times to alert Simmons Police and Public Safety Department or the nearest 911 center, depending on their location.
PHOTO: BADGEMESSENGER
The BadgeMessenger is a school badge that includes four buttons. The buttons on the badge represent the need for help, medical assistance, maintenance or an emergency.
According to the Dumas ISD Police Department, the partnership between the district and law enforcement will help first responders before they arrive to the scene of an emergency by giving them vital information.
“We wanted to figure out a solution for stemming workplace violence by getting ahead of the curve because it's a national trend, and, unfortunately, we are not immune to it,” said Todd Miller, public safety and security specialist for SSM's St. Louis region, which includes eight hospitals.