Federal school safety report addresses attacks, mental health, discrimination

Dec. 18 (UPI) -- The Trump administration said Tuesday the Federal Commission on School Safety is making several recommendations to stopping school shootings and calling for an end to Obama-era policies aimed at preventing discrimination.

The commission, which was put together after the February shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., recommends in a report released Tuesday supporting a temporary order to take away guns from those deemed to be a danger to themselves and others, while respecting due process and "Second Amendment liberties."

President Donald Trump said Tuesday the purpose of the report was "to prevent school shootings and keep our children safe."

"Nothing is more important than protecting our nation's children," Trump said.

The commission also recommends that school districts work with law enforcement to establish a method to have "highly-trained individuals" on campus with weapons. A senior administration official told reporters on a conference call Tuesday the report does not specifically recommend arming teachers, but said the average time of a mass shooting attack is three to four minutes -- and police response time is eight minutes, at the earliest.

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, told reporters the recommendations were made after the panel heard testimony from students, school officials, law enforcement and lawmakers around the country.

"The report addresses a holistic view of school safety based on the insights, experience and expertise of these individuals," DeVos said. "We do not propose one-size-fits-all solutions for everyone. Local problems need local solutions. We have identified options policymakers should explore."

DeVos said the report encourages better access to mental health services so people can receive the treatment they need, including a need to modernize federal privacy laws. One policy DeVos suggested Tuesday was one that doesn't identify or show photos of school shooters.

It also urges school institutions to partner with local law enforcement in the training and arming of school personnel and placing veterans and retired law enforcement officers to serve in a variety of school roles.

"States and local communities should consider incentivizing these folks to pursue careers in education, as well as work to reduce barriers to certifications," DeVos said.

Administration officials said the commission heard repeated discontent for Obama-era guidelines set in 2014 to alert school districts of potential civil rights law violations if black students or students of other racial minorities are suspended, expelled or disciplined in other ways at higher rates than white students.

The commission chose to focus on the Obama guidelines partly because Parkland shooter Nikolas Cruz, a former MSD student, was a participant in Broward County's Promise program, which provides an alternative to arrest for some students.

"One of the things that the commission was concerned with was the reoccurring narrative that teachers in the classroom, or students in the hallways, on campus were afraid because individuals who had a history of anti-social or aggressive, trending toward violent behavior were left unpunished or left unchecked," a senior administration official said. "That's the first move the report makes is to correct for that problem."

Although the Florida Promise program was launched a year before the Obama guidelines were put into place, it has been viewed as an early example of the kind of initiatives schools may implement to lessen the racial disparities in regard to discipline.

Tuesday's report also touched on other issues, like violent entertainment and school building security.

Andrew Pollack, father of Parkland victim Meadow Pollack, joined Trump and DeVos in discussing the report at the White House referring to it as "the most comprehensive report by any administration on a school shooting."

March for Our Lives demands action on guns

Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School student Emma Gonzalez took the stage at the Washington, D.C., march for 6 minutes and 20 seconds, the length of time the shooting went on at the school on February 14. She also read the names of those who died. Photo by David Tulis /UPI | License Photo

0 of 0

Trending Stories

Photo Gallery

Latest News

U.S. school safety report addresses mental health, discrimination

March for Our Lives demands action on guns

Trending Stories

Photo Gallery

Latest News