April 4, 2018

Rep. Yaccarino Joins School Safety & Security Working Group

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State Representative Dave Yaccarino (R-North Haven) joined a legislative School Security and Safety Working Group. This bipartisan working group will be designed to evaluate the implementation of safety and security measures the state mandated following the events of Sandy Hook, and to produce new recommendations to ensure school security and safety going forward.

In the aftermath of last month’s school shooting in Parkland, FL, there has been discussion in Connecticut and across the country about school security among educators, students and parents.

“I am committed to doing what it takes to make our schools a safe place for our students,” said Yaccarino. “It is no surprise that our nation has experienced much tension regarding the safety of students and faculty in our schools, and we cannot continue this way. This working group of experts and education stakeholders will discuss and explore a variety of ways in which we can ensure our schools remain safe learning communities.”

At a recent press conference, members of the group announced the following action items:

Summarize current school safety legislation
Measure school districts’ knowledge of current legislation
Use and availability of existing state and federal funds
Review of whether regulations and associated programs have been implemented
Availability of school-based mental health professionals
Parents’ knowledge and understanding of their district’s security measures
Local educators’ view of the effectiveness of legislation and related programs
Determine viability of school security measures installed years ago
Identify new trends and techniques in school security
Collect recent concerns of educators, students and law enforcement
Determine what other states are doing

The legislators also intend to communicate with their districts, teachers, superintendents, and students to get feedback on what has been done, how things have changed and what they still feel needs to change.

Among the working group’s proposed participants:

Republican and Democrat legislators
School superintendents
Law enforcement personnel
Mental health professionals for children
Federal agency liaisons
School security consultants
Students and parents

State Representative Dave Yaccarino represents the 87^th district, which includes North Haven. She is the Ranking Member of the General Assembly’s Commerce Committee and a member of the Finance, Revenue, and Bonding Committee and the Executive and Legislative Nominations Committee.