NY school districts should have uniform safety guidance, state teachers union says
Wednesday, August 31, 2022
The state should issue uniform school safety guidance for all districts, from single points of entry to lockdown procedures, while establishing staffing ratios for school social workers, counselors and psychologists, according to a new report from the New York State United Teachers.
In the wake of the shooting in May at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, that left 19 students and two teachers dead, the union Tuesday released a report detailing local, state and federal policy recommendations to address violence in schools.
The "Safe Schools for All" report, which included input from educators in the Farmingdale, William Floyd, Bellport and Patchogue-Medford school districts — and comes as students return to the classroom this week — argues that smaller class size, increased hiring of support staff and the adoption of crisis prevention strategies will help stem violence in schools.