Six years ago today, my sister fell victim to dating and gun violence. This personal tragedy has sparked a mission within me to make our schools safer for all students. We are calling on the Board of Education and County Commissioners in Great Mills, MD to prioritize student safety by increasing funding for security measures.

Our school needs more than just a basic level of safety; we need an environment where every student feels secure. This can be achieved through the employment of additional security guards and the installation of weapons detection systems. A study by the National Center for Education Statistics shows that schools with security staff have fewer instances of crime (NCES, 2019). Additionally, metal detectors have been proven effective in preventing weapons from entering school premises (Journal of School Health, 2018).

The presence of violence disrupts learning environments and puts students' lives at risk. It's time we take proactive steps towards ensuring that no other family experiences what mine did six years ago.

We urge you to consider our plea seriously - invest more in our children's safety today so they can focus on their education without fear tomorrow. Please sign this petition if you believe in creating a safer future for our students.