Wake school board creates task force to study school safety

Cary, N.C. — The Wake County Board of Education has enlisted the help of Sheriff Donnie Harrison and former Raleigh police Capt. Al White to lead a schools safety task force, board Chairman Keith Sutton said Tuesday.

The task force, which will consist to 15 to 20 people appointed by the school board, will look at the school system's policies for emergency prevention, preparedness, response and recovery.

School board member John Tedesco will serve as liaison between the board and the task force, which will present its findings in 90 to 120 days.

The school board sparked controversy last month when it debated placing unarmed security guards in each of the district's 105 elementary schools. The board voted to table that idea at a Jan. 22 meeting, but it wasn't clear when it would return to the agenda.

The task force could take up the issue and study whether unarmed guards would improve school safety.

The Wake County Board of Commissioners blasted the idea, calling it a waste of money that accomplishes nothing.

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They should start by appointing someone to do a psych eval on the board. They have lost their grip in reality.

4Strikes
February 6, 2013 3:57 p.m.

The entire SRO program needs to be revisited.

Statistics show no improvemnet and actual detrimental effects especially in middle school.

your kid get in a fight as all of us did in Jr high but now you get to go to court about it- ridiculous!

Hysteria at it's finest.

No Guards in elementary school!!

ncguy
February 6, 2013 10:06 a.m.

superman: "you cant stop a train"

Agreed. So how do we balance the public's want for a security measure (armed guard, I suppose) vs. the overall effectiveness of said security measure vs. the tax-payer burden for said measure???

"The task force is really useless"

Slightly disagree. If the public tasks the School Board and Commissioners to better security in our schools, it is part of the accountability process to study all aspects. I do agree that they're not going to find out anything except that "you can't stop a train"...

twatts1000
February 6, 2013 9:53 a.m.

1. Wake County SB proposes unarmed guards. 2. County Commissioners response: "I am all about security officers, but they need to be armed. Can’t see where an unarmed security officer will be able to protect any child," Commissioner Phil Matthews said. 3. WCSB postpones vote and proposes to create commission to study "the school system's policies for emergency prevention, preparedness, response and recovery" 4. County Commissioners response: "a waste of money that accomplishes nothing"

Sounds like the CCs just want the WCSB to take the armed guards and shut up about it...

That's all fine and dandy, County Commissioners, but who is going to pay for all the armed guards? Oh yeah, we are - the taxpayers. And how do we know that an armed guard gives us that much more security than an unarmed guard, in terms of money spent?

Its about accountability to the public. Public Offices should study all aspects of a topic and make the most reasonable choice. This includes the CC's office.

twatts1000
February 6, 2013 9:34 a.m.

The post did not state they these people were going to be paid for being on the task force. The task force is really useless anyway. Too many schools. They all have numerous outside doors and huge windows. Keep in mind there is no rule that says Rambo has to go inside the building. Students are outside and ride buses. If we learned anything about 911 and Peal Harbour we should know that whatever you do--the element of surprise is a key factor. Had they know the plans were going to hit the building they could have prevented it. At Pearl Harbour we had the best military force in the world and that wasnt enough. If they is a guard at the front door Rambo just shoots thru the school windows or goes in the back door. How you going to protect all those students in the morning when they arrive and when they leave. Students are also outside numerous times a day. How you going to protect the students who ride the bus? Bottom line is--you cant stop a train.