A general lack of awareness regarding available school safety resources and a need to better coordinate federal efforts across government agencies currently task congressional lawmakers, who must collectively confront solutions, U.S. Rep. Dan Donovan (R-NY), chairman of the U.S. House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications, said during a July 9 subcommittee hearing.
“There isn’t a one-size-fits-all fix, but collaborative dialogues will allow us to find the most effective policy solutions and ideas,” said Rep. Donovan in a July 11 statement.
The hearing, entitled Protecting Our Future: Addressing School Security Challenges in America, included testimony from senior officials from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Education (DOE), Staten Island (N.Y.) Community Education Council, New Jersey Association of School Resource Officers, among other agencies.
Following numerous school shootings across the United States, Rep. Donovan said in his opening statement that federal agencies have taken an “all-hands-on-deck approach” to the issue and have made “a concerted effort to better coordinate the resources available for schools,” including more than $2 billion in funding for grants that can be used to enhance school security authorized under the Fiscal Year 2018 Consolidated Appropriations Act.
“However, I am concerned that states and localities may not be aware that these funds exist or that they may be used to enhance school security,” Rep. Donovan said, letting government officials know that he wanted to hear details about how they’re working to coordinate the various forms of assistance so funds are most beneficial to state and local partners, as well as how the agencies are conducting outreach to educate state and local partners about these resources.
“Efforts to secure schools must begin at the local level and I know that states and localities across the country have taken steps to address this important issue, including through security enhancements to school buildings, the assignment of school resource officers, increased information sharing with law enforcement, training, and exercises,” he said. “It will be beneficial to hear about the innovative practices our second panel of witnesses are undertaking to provide security in their areas.
Witnesses included Robert Kolasky, DHS Deputy Assistant Secretary of the National Protection and Program Directorate’s Office of Infrastructure Protection; Jason Botel, DOE Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education; Alan Hanson, DOJ Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General; and Michael Reilly, president of the Staten Island Community Education Council 31.
Much of their testimony focused on the importance of ensuring that school districts, state and local officials, and law enforcement officers have such needed resources, according to a statement from Donovan’s office, including prevention efforts to help identify students who need additional support and counseling.
Other topics included implementing smart security procedures and streamlining information sharing. For instance, Reilly highlighted the benefit of mirroring certain security protocols on other successful programs, such as public schools using a New York Fire Department master key access program that would alleviate concerns around how locked doors could prevent law enforcement and first responders from quickly entering buildings.
DHS also highlighted its response-and-recovery tabletop exercises and workshops that assist school districts in planning to mitigate damage during and after an active shooter event, and its efforts to create a guide on best practices for school-based threat assessments and violence prevention.
“Securing our schools and ensuring a safe, healthy, and productive learning environment for our kids is a priority for me and my colleagues in Congress,” Rep. Donovan said during the subcommittee hearing.
“Our nation has seen too many incidents of violence this year alone,” he added. “We must do everything necessary to strengthen school security by identifying challenges, prioritizing violence prevention, and ensuring resources reach our communities.”
U.S. Rep. Donald Payne (D-NJ), ranking member of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications, said during the hearing that the federal government must do more to ensure children are safe in their classrooms, as well as on their way to and from school.
“I was pleasantly surprised to hear from Department of Education Deputy Assistant Secretary Jason Botel that the Federal Commission on School Safety will be researching the role of guns in school shootings,” Rep. Payne said. “His testimony illustrates the continuing need for hearings that bring together stakeholders to explore ways federal, state, and local officials can help protect America’s school children.”