The Washington County School Safety Initiative is asking for your support!

NATIONAL STATISTICS:

• There have been 1,924 school shooting incidents since 1970
• 2021 had the greatest number of incidents, with 249 - the next highest year was 2019 with 119
• Since 1970, 637 lives have been lost in school shootings - 1,734 were injured

Stats compiled by Campus Safety Magazine, January 2022

SURVEY RESULTS OF WASHINGTON COUNTY TEACHERS:

• 62% are not confident in their safety/security in school
• 65% of students are afraid to go to school
• 50% believe there is illegal drug use in their school
• 85% have witnessed bullying
• 56% of teachers have received a threat of violence from a student
• 78% have witnessed a fight in school
• 33% have been assaulted by a student
• 30% have witnessed a student with a weapon in school
• 62% say they are aware of a student bringing a weapon to school
• 70% feel their school has not taken appropriate security measures
• Teachers rate their confidence in their appointed School Resource Officer's ability to keep them safe a 4 (on a scale of 1-10)
• Teachers rate their school's overall safety as a 5 (on a scale of 1-10)

Acording to a survey conducted in May 2022 by the WCSSI involving 140 teachers representing 83% of the schools in the county.

The Washington County School Safety Initiative was created to address security concerns within our school system. Our team is growing daily with support from teachers, parents, law enforcement officials, and other community members. Our primary objective is to provide a consolidated effort to increase security measures in Washington County Schools.

We are asking the board to execute the following actions:

• Enhance active and passive security measures at every school
• Employ armed security at all schools to assist SROs
• Mandate active threat training for all staff members
• Provide teachers and classrooms with additional security tools
• Re-evaluate student disciplinary measures, enhance enforcement, and create a position within the school board to act as a liaison with the State's Attorney's Office

This project is currently in the development stages. We are seeking support from teachers, students, parents, administrative personnel, and community members who have an interest in the safety and security of our school system. The above action items are only a starting point and will grow over the next few months as we refine our requests. Our intention is to provide the school board with a comprehensive outline built by law enforcement and security professionals, and with input from school administrators, detailing the steps, requirements, and execution of measures to ensure the safety of Washington County schools.

Your signature will serve as acknowledgement that the current security situation in the WCPS system is flawed, and that measures need to be instituted immediately. Your signature does not bind you to any action or requirement. Your information will not be sold but may be presented to the school board to show the validity of this petition.