Another school shooting, and NC has yet to take concrete action to prevent it here
Although various ideas have been floated and legislation drafted to put some proposals into law, North Carolina is at the same place it was months ago when it comes to school safety, which concerns officials.
Posted — Updated"We have got to look at the way schools are built. We have got to look at the disciplinary factor in the schools. We have to look at the training police officers and [school resource officers] get," Harrison said.
Gov. Roy Cooper said the Texas shooting is a warning to state leaders that action is needed during the next few weeks, as lawmakers meet in the 2018 legislative session.
"We know what we need to do. We need to do it," Cooper said. "I know it's not simple, but if we can do what we can to keep guns out of the hands of criminals, of very, very young people, of people who are mentally unstable ... then I think not only will our schools be safer but our society will be safer."
"Obviously, you can't prevent everything, but you can certainly take steps to make a real difference," he said. "These [school shootings] keep happening, and people are frustrated, and it's time for us to move forward."
It's unclear when any of those proposals will get a hearing or a vote in the General Assembly.
One proposal calls for expanding the use of a mobile app that allows students and others to report potential threats anonymously.
"Students will probably feel much more comfortable reporting a tip anonymously because they will be safe," said Ben Matthews, chief schools operations officer at the state Department of Public Instruction.
The SpeakUp app was piloted in five school districts, including Johnston and Wayne counties, and Matthews said students reported not only weapons on campus but also bullying, underage drinking and drug use.
"Don't just ignore it, [thinking], 'Oh, that will never happen in my neighborhood.' Oh, yes it can," he said.
Harrison said educators also must report dangerous behavior when they see it. Discipline in schools must be tightened, he said, and students should face criminal charges when they threaten their schools.
"We have got to send a message that you don't play on this. You are dealing with human lives," he said. "Even if it is a juvenile, you have to send a message."
Lawmakers discussed the idea of tougher punishments for school threats, but they said they want to study it more.
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