Oklahoma legislators recognize how critical it is to keeping our kids safe at school. Extremely important as well is to ensure those teachers and administrators entrusted with watching over the students also are safe.
To that end, state lawmakers during their regular session this year passed legislation that provides funding for schools to apply for a grant that allows them to enhance their security.
Wellston School Supt. Mike Franz explained the grant is for $92,000 per year up to three years to hire school resource officers and it can be used for other security measures as well.
His school applied for the grant and it was approved quickly. Why would it not be? The funds are there as set up in the legislation for a three-year period.
Other schools in Lincoln County and some in neighboring Pottawatomie County, too, that we know of have school resource officers. For Meeker, it will be the first time they have contracted to have one.
Some school districts in the area like Chandler, North Rock Creek, Dale, McLoud, Shawnee and probably some others we might not be aware, have had school resource officers for some time.
This legislation that was passed is intended to provide funds and encourage school districts to hire school resource officers and look at how they can improve their safety with the money there each year for three years.
Whether state lawmakers continue providing the funding after that period of time is, of course, an issue for future Legislatures to decide.
School resource officers and improved, updated security systems provide a deterrent, we think, to someone thinking about causing harm to students, their teachers and administrators.
They may not prevent something from happening all the time because they’re not a cure all to a person who is thinking about trying to bring a gun, knife or some other device inside a school.
But school resource officers and security systems are needed in today’s world. Unfortunately, that is true right here in Oklahoma.
Last Friday at Francis Tuttle Technology Center a student was reportedly stabbed in a bathroom by a former student. A school resource officer took that suspect into custody.
As we stated, these officers and security systems may not be a cure all, still there was a resource officer who was able to quickly respond and take the situation under control.
As Supt. Franz pointed out, and we agree, with school resource officers on school campuses the lines of communication can be open, clear and quick.
We’re aware that in the case of the Wellston, Chandler and Meeker School Districts they are contracting with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office. These resource officers are Lincoln County deputies who have experience and who can reach out for assistance immediately when needed.
We urge school districts across Oklahoma to take advantage of this legislation which allows them to enhance their safety.
It’s a great opportunity, keeping in mind school safety is a big deal.