York County News

In a move aimed at enhancing the safety of Pennsylvania's schools, Senator Mike Regan has introduced legislation mandating the presence of armed security personnel during school hours. The bill, known as Senate Bill 907, seeks to ensure that every school district employs an armed, trained, and vetted security officer on school premises.

"Students want to know their schools are safe and parents want to know their children will come home at the end of the school day," stated Regan. He emphasized that the safety of students, teachers, and staff should be prioritized. "Students deserve a safe environment where they can learn and grow, and teachers should not have the sole responsibility for protecting our kids."

The proposed legislation also extends its scope to extracurricular activities by allowing school boards to decide whether armed security personnel should be present during events outside regular school hours. The personnel would undergo rigorous training and certification processes, including lethal weapons training and instruction on engaging with students.

"We require our children to attend school therefore it is incumbent upon us to do everything we can to secure them while they are there," Regan explained. He warned that failing to pass this bill could leave schools vulnerable to attacks.

Since 2018, $800 million in grant funds have been allocated by the Pennsylvania General Assembly for school safety upgrades. However, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, only about half of the state's 500 districts have implemented measures such as employing armed officers.

"Many school districts haven’t done what is considered by school security experts as the most effective method of deterring acts of violence," concluded Regan. "The time to fix that is now before another school falls victim to a heinous act of violence."

Further details about Senator Regan's initiatives can be found on his website at www.SenatorMikeReganPa.com.