Safety and security. It is about being proactive, not reactive. 

We are concerned students, staff, and parents. We know that there is more that can be done to secure our schools. Therefore, we ask students, parents, staff, and administrators to unite and pressure state law enforcement, state and local political leaders to help better ensure our safety.

We demand to get our voices heard and find an approach for securing our school buildings and keeping us safe. Student and staff safety is our greatest priority. We need to secure our schools NOW and find viable, proven alternatives to implement safety. We can no longer assume, "It would never really happen here." We must attempt to reduce violence and protect our students and staff from these heinous acts and threats. The time for action is now!

In addition, we also ask to fight for policies that implement more restorative services for students, more counselors, social-emotional learning, trauma-informed care.

Our Demands:

Demands from school administrators:

•  We ask school administrators to implement better training for the students and the staff. 
• We ask for transparency during the time of the conflict.
•  To reinforce town hall meetings and listen to what parents and students have to say and feel.
• To have information provided to parents and students in different languages.
• Implement consequences for students who don't obey instructions during conflicts.
• Transparency about the aftermath of a conflict.
• Implement real consequences to those committing the crime.

Demands to local and state Leglislatios, board of education, and county council:

•  Work on policies for more restorative services for students,
  More counselors
• Implement social-emotional learning
  Implement trauma-informed care.
• Implement legislation for safer schools, better-trained, and stricter security guards.
• A better and more secure sign-in system
• Imploment tecnology for wepon prevention in schools.
• Implement mandatory screening with parents and students to find signs of mental health.
• Be more involved with the students and parents.
   

The Protest:

As a protest, we, the students, will be wearing black during spirit week. Also, on Friday, December 17, I propose that staff and students from SVHS and neighboring schools protest outside of SVHS and wear black as a message and protest at 3 PM. 

The Petition:

Sign the petition if you pledge to join us and send a message to our legislators. Nothing has changed, and this can't keep happening. This message lets the government know the time for change is now.

This petition will be presented to our representative at the Maryland general assembly during their legislative session, the board of education, and the county council.