BESE is calling on the state legislature to appropriate funding for trained school resource officers in all public schools to increase security. District 4 Member Michael Melerine says he raised the issue last year following the Uvalde-Texas school shooting and is revisiting it after the Nashville school mass shooting hit close to home.
“There were Louisiana connections in that tragedy. Specifically, one of the administrators was born in Leesville which is in my district. That lady ended up becoming an aunt to one of my wife’s friends. People I know were personally affected by this.”
Melerine says officers should be certified by a nationally accredited school resource officer program or a state training program. He says providing a safe and secure environment for all students and educators is a priority.
“If it’s one less thing for our teachers to have to worry about you can have someone that’s trained and qualified to step in and do those things. I think it’s worth it. I don’t think we can put a price on it really.”
A survey of Louisiana schools following the 2022 Louisiana School Safety Summit – a conference for system leaders, law enforcement, and other agencies to discuss school safety and emergency preparedness – indicated approximately 67 percent (of 73 percent of schools responding) currently have a school resource officer. Melerine says the Board is committed to protecting our schools.
“Everybody was unified. There was no push back and everybody is realizing the benefit that school resource officers can give to a school system.”
The Board also requested that school systems annually report the total number of school resource officers to the Louisiana Department of Education.
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