School Safety Study Committee Hears Testimony in Final Meeting

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
The School Safety Interim Study Committee held its final meeting last week to discuss the feasibility of funding the creation of a statewide option for school resource officer programs.

Testimony was heard from city and county officials as well as Vigo County police officers that have successfully implemented resource officer programs in schools around the country. The involvement of community stakeholders in getting programs up and running and the overwhelming participation of students in addressing potential dangers were key in the testimony given. Full-time resource officers have increased communication between officials and students. The officers recommended that school corporations be given he appropriate public resources to set up similar programs with as little financial burden as possible.

The School Safety Interim Study Committee will publish a final report with its official recommendations soon.

Local Representative Appointed to School Safety Interim Study Committee

Posted on Author WKVI

Senator Jim Arnold
Senator Jim Arnold
The state’s new School Safety Interim Study Committee has a local representative.

Democrat State Senator Jim Arnold, who represents most of LaPorte County and several townships in Starke County, was appointed to the committee and he will work with fellow appointees to look at ways to improve safety among the state’s schools and develop best practices for school resource officers hired under the provisions of Senate Enrolled Act 1. The act provides schools with grant funding to hire officers to assist with school safety and security.

Among other committees he’s been appointed to, Senator Arnold will serve on the Criminal Law and Sentencing Policy Study Committee. The committee is charged with studying a variety of issues surrounding the investigation and sentencing of crimes in Indiana, including the criminal code that was approved in April. The law takes effect next year which includes sentencing laws, local corrections programs and the suspension of certain sentences.