After creating a commission to assist schools and nonprofits with guidance and training for crisis management last year, Shreveport Senator Barry Milligan wants to make it a permanent entity, and establish the Center for Safe Schools within the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, and Senate Bill 207 does just that.
“That’s their full-time mission is to be an asset or resource to all of our school systems, private schools, charter schools, non-profit schools, your public schools everybody on how can we protect ourselves,” said Milligan.
Milligan said initially it was students from the Legislative Youth Advisory Council who told him they might practice active shooter drills, but they aren’t necessarily prepared on what to do if it happens when they change classes or if they could be doing more to protect themselves.
“They were also asking to know that every school had bleeding control kits, that they had the supplies on hand in case they did have an active shooter they could respond immediately and save lives,” said Milligan.
Another reason Milligan said it’s important to have a central point of reference is to assist schools and non-profits with resources and how to apply for grants to increase security.
“Programs out there to be able to provide camera systems, anything that they need but you have to start somewhere and we’re working on that with this,” said Milligan.
The Center for Safe Schools would operate within GOHSEP and Milligan said the entity will also be able to apply for Federal funds as well.
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