School Safety Resolution

NATIONAL SHERIFFS’ ASSOCIATION SUPPORTS THE MISSION OF NATIONAL SCHOOL SAFETY GUIDELINES AND RECOGNIZES OUR SCHOOLS AS CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE REQUIRING THE PROTECTION OF AMERICA’S CLASSROOMS, STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND STAFF

WHEREAS the National Sheriffs’ Association acknowledges School Safety as a priority in our nation’s counties, parishes, cities, etc. and America’s schools are critical infrastructure and key assets to our communities; and

WHEREAS School Safety and security remains a priority of the National Sheriffs’ Association; and

WHEREAS enhancing physical security of school facilities and improving incident response are priorities; and

WHEREAS hardening (layered security) and making each classroom and our schools a protected space must become a priority; and

WHEREAS among those efforts are priorities to enhance immediate notifications directly to emergency public service access points (E911); and

WHEREAS school emergency systems should be required and enable interoperable video, voice and data communications among schools, first responders and other vested stakeholders; and

WHEREAS by implementing these technologies students are better protected in the event of an active shooter event; and

WHEREAS law enforcement response can be greatly enhanced to mitigate serious bodily injuries and loss of life; and

WHEREAS the National Sheriffs’ Association recognizes intervention and prevention as critical components to enhancing school safety; and

WHEREAS this strategy calls for an increase in the number of highly trained School Resource Officers with a committed purpose to law enforcement and security; and

WHEREAS the National Sheriffs’ Association believes all school threats and crimes committed on school property should be shared information with all stakeholders; and

WHEREAS the National Sheriffs’ Association strongly supports national school safety guidelines and standards that follow best practices, as recommended by America’s sheriffs; and

WHEREAS the National Sheriffs’ Association feels national school safety guidelines will encourage America’s schools to make school safety a more uniform system and priority in their communities; and

WHEREAS the National Sheriffs’ Association also recognizes all communities have different needs in securing their schools;

NOW, therefore, be it resolved, that the National Sheriffs’ Association establishes that our schools are a part of our critical infrastructure and should be protected as well as government buildings, thereby securing our most important assets which are “Our Children”.

NOW, therefore, be it resolved that the National Sheriffs’ Association will create National School Safety Guidelines following best practices, as recommended by America’s sheriffs, in creating a layered school safety system that prioritize making each classroom and each school a protected space.

NOW, therefore, be it resolved that the National Sheriffs’ Association urges Congress, state legislatures and county governments to appropriate funding necessary to allow America’s communities to enhance safer schools and follow best practices as recommended by the National Sheriffs’ Association.

Final — June 18, 2018
New Orleans, Louisiana