Governor's Task Force Recommends Steps for Safer Schools
Posted August 10, 1999 7:00 a.m. EDT
RALEIGH — Recent school shootings have renewed concerns about safety in our schools. Three months ago, Governor Jim Hunt appointed aTask Force on Youth Violence and School Safetyto find ways to make North Carolina schools safer. After receiving the group's recommendations Wednesday morning, the governor says schools in our state are more prepared to deal with violence than ever before.
"What if we come to school one day and there are guns at our school, what are we supposed to do? I really appreciate that they are taking a step in trying to figure out how we would be more safe," says high school student Renee Zeneka.
A week before Wake County students return to class, safety is on their minds. Some of those students were on hand Wednesday morning as the governor was givenan official reportfrom the task force addressing those concerns.
The report contains six main recommendations, all encouraging involvement from everyone in the community.
The group also suggested immediate actions to be taken to achieve those goals. They include:
Officials hope to have the tip line -- which will be provided to the state at no cost -- to be set up in a few weeks. They also hope to have the brochures ready to send out soon, which will include the tip line number.
Other recommendations involve funding from the General Assembly to hire more school resource officers.