The latest annual school safety risk assessment report in Kentucky shows gains
Republished from WEKU.
Kentucky’s state school security marshal is hailing a just-released report on school safety as evidence of progress. More than 13 hundred schools undergo an annual risk assessment.
Ben Wilcox said the latest review of schools showed 99.8% compliance in following statutory safety requirements. The mandated access control requirements include electronic-locking front doors, locked classroom doors, and surveillance cameras. Wilcox said every school has the availability for these things.
“And now we’re getting to the stage where…in 2020 we were getting those fixed and in 2024 more things are getting added. More cameras are being added. More security features are being added. More technology is being added,” said Wilcox.
The state school security marshal noted mental health services have been expanded. Wilcox added that paves the way for getting help to troubled students and tip lines are key in stopping potential threats.
Wilcox said school districts have made much progress in employing school resource officers in schools. There’s been a 28% increase over last year, according to the annual risk assessment. Wilcox said there are about 800 S-R-Os with about a thousand campuses.
“Schools are doing a phenomenal job of coming up with funds and local agencies are doing a really good job because law enforcement, like teaching or any other position right now, it’s hard to find anybody. The fact that we are constantly putting officers into schools…we’re not there yet, but we’re definitely on our way,” said Wilcox.
Wilcox said in 2019 there were 400 school resource officers throughout the state.
The state school security marshal said the State requires 120 hours of certification to be a school resource officer. He noted that the standard is above and beyond anywhere else in the U.S.
Originally published by WEKU.
Republished with permission.
