Indiana Governor Unveils 2019 School Safety Measures

Indiana Governor Unveils 2019 School Safety Measures

Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb has made school safety and security a priority for 2019 and beyond.

  • By Sydny Shepard
  • December 12, 2018

Incidents at schools throughout Indiana have prompted Governor Eric Holcomb to include campus security and safety as a large part of his 2019 agenda. 

The state understands campus security is a large part of Governor Holcomb's goals as in 2018 he offered all schools the ability to procure handheld metal detectors through the governor's program. 

"About 97 percent plus of the schools took us up on the office and we left it up to locals to determine what protocol they would follow," Governor Holcomb said. "I wanted to make sure that the best way that you could control what happens inside a school is control what gets in a school."

Governor Holcomb's 2019 Next Level Agenda included a school safety report that outlined 18 recommendations. Holcomb said he plans to enact all of them. While some are complete, some are in progress and others will require legislation.

Some of the more notable recommendations include:

  • Require schools to provide a baseline level of professional mental health support to students and families through community mental health centers or providers.
  • Enhance technology related to school safety by investing in the development of a school safety technology sit or "Indiana School Safety Hub."
  • Direct the Integrated Public Safety Commission (IPSC) to develop a self-evaluation tool for schools to determine the current posture of their communication capabilities. 
  • Incorporate school safety and risk factor recognition training into new teacher training programs.
  • Initiate the development and use of an anonymous, statewide reporting tip line.
  • Consolidate funding sources for school safety grants.
  • Require schools to conduct a threat assessment by June 30, 2021.

See the full list of recommendations here.

About the Author

Sydny Shepard is the Executive Editor of Campus Security & Life Safety.

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