Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/107698
AT THE CAPITOL Arizona Legislature Needs to Support Public Schools' Safety Programs Following the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School, many elected officials in Arizona have called for extreme measures such as arming teachers and allowing volunteer armed civilians to patrol around schools. The Arizona Education Association (AEA) believes that all students and school employees must learn and work in an environment free of violence. Accordingly, AEA opposes firearms on school grounds unless carried by certified police or security officers. While AEA is not calling for requiring a School/Safety Resource Officer (SRO) or law enforcement on every campus, we do support districts and schools who determine that such an option is right for their security plans. Accordingly, we call on the legislature to appropriate funding to support school and district safety plans, including those that call for such staffed positions. "These people have as their primary function security," says AEA President Andrew F. Morrill. "In most cases, SROs do more than provide security. They work with at-risk students, teach classes on conflict resolution or other aspects of drug/crime prevention, and work closely with administration on school safety." AEA will support reasonable school safety legislation that supports school districts' security plans and mental health resources in order to provide safe schools for our students, volunteers, and employees. We will oppose any legislation that proposes to place firearms in the hands of anyone who is not a certified, trained law enforcement or security professional in our schools. "The answer to reducing violence on our schools cannot be to increase the number of guns on campuses," says Morrill. When the Arizona Legislature cut over $1 billion from K-12 schools during the economic recession, many school districts made drastic cuts to staffing, including school counselors and psychologists. Local law enforcement has, in the past, provided SROs, but their budgets have been cut also. So in many cases, neither districts nor law enforcement can provide those officers as they once could. Arizona's children deserve access to specialized school personnel who are trained to support students' behavioral, social, and emotional needs. Educators want and need continued training to help them spot potential mental health needs, bullying, or high-risk behaviors. "The bottom line is that all children deserve a safe and supportive learning environment," says Morrill. "Every policymaker and stakeholder of public education in Arizona—from parents to elected officials—must prioritize both investments in mental health services and sensible school safety policies." 2 AEA President Andrew F. Morrill speaks at a press conference about school safety. Campbell Announces Details of Safer Schools, Safer Communities Plan On January 9, 2013, House Minority Leader Chad Campbell, D-Phoenix (District 24), held a press conference at the Arizona Capitol to present his Safer Schools, Safer Communities Plan and stated that the best way to curb gun violence in schools and in communities is to face the problem head on. "We have to have an honest discussion about gun violence," Campbell said. "The only way to effectively change things is to imple Spring.13advo.indd 7 ment comprehensive solutions. We need to talk about ways to keep our school campuses safe, we have to discuss ways to provide services to people with mental illness, and frankly, we need to talk about guns." Campbell has been working with law enforcement, mental health care providers, and educators to develop a comprehensive legislative package intended to create safer schools and safer communities in Arizona. Continued on page 16 AEA Advocate x Spring 2013 7 1/29/13 10:53 AM