Columbia, South Carolina (Wisconsin) – Public safety is one of the South Carolina State Capitol’s top priorities this year, including strengthening school safety.
It has the support of Gov. Henry McMaster, who is asking the General Assembly to pour millions into the state budget to strengthen schools.
in his administrative budget, the governor requested $27.3 million for the 188 schools that do not currently have school resource officers. With that funding, the governor said his 1,170 of his 1,283 schools in South Carolina, 91{ea2cba5bdf6fe62bbe85e24807814144a71e77d3ae7311fbc27a008558d1372c}, would have at least one full-time armed certified SRO.
McMaster is also asking for an additional $3.6 million to establish a center for school safety and targeted violence at the old Gilbert Elementary School in Lexington County, which is no longer in use.
At this center, South Carolina’s law enforcement department, SLED, works with FBI and Homeland Security agents to work with law enforcement officers, including SROs, teachers, administrators, and others such as bus drivers. trained school staff.
“They can go to that school and be in a school-like environment, where there are no students. Everything can be learned, in such cases,” said McMaster.
The creation of a statewide school safety center Among the recommendations presented last year by South Carolina Coalition for Safer Schoolsmembers include teachers, mental health professionals and pediatricians.
This proposal from McMaster has their support.
“It is about actively trying to prevent a tragedy like Uvalde from happening in the first place. It’s about being able to react and respond,” said a teacher at coalition member Patrick Kelly High School in Richland County.
Acting Speaker of the House Tommy Pope, a Republican from York County and one of the highest-ranking members of the House of Commons, said: submitted a bill Formally create this center and tell SLED to work out its details.
Pope said it would codify most of the practices SLED already has in place and provide a vehicle for government agencies to receive funding.
So far, the bill has won three cosponsors, all Republicans.
“Our schools need to be a place to learn, not to worry,” said Pope.
McMaster’s executive budget request states that approximately $2.6 million of the total $3.6 million will be one-time funding for SLED to acquire property rights and purchase equipment from Lexington First School District.
The remaining $1 million must be allocated annually to the state budget to pay for staffing and operating expenses.
The Pope is optimistic that the center will soon become a reality.
“I think we have a chance. The Pope has said he believes the bill will pass at least in the House of Representatives, and the Republican caucus, which has an overwhelming majority, has made public safety a top priority.
Kelly agrees.
“We are very hopeful that this will be something that passes the General Assembly this year. We are talking about the well-being and safety of our children, and it affects all South Carolinians.”
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