Missouri schools safe enough
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Missouri schools safe enough

Date: October 2, 2006
By: Fanna Haile-Selassie
State Capitol Bureau

Intro: The Colorado and Pennsylvania school shootings haven't led to security changes in Missouri schools.

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The chief spokesperson for the Missouri Department of Education, Jim Morris said Missouri is leaving its local school districts to decide what security protocols are necessary.

However, the department does require all Missouri schools to have a crisis plan.

Morris says one of the main factors in a non-state wide reaction to a safe schools initiative is money.

Actuality:  MORRIS01.WAV
Run Time: 00:07
Description: If the state would chose to mandate something, it would have to pay for it, and that would be an obstacle.

Morris says the department has concluded many communities are opposed to security measures such as metal detectors because of the climate they can lead to.

However, cameras are becoming more popular on school grounds.

From the State Capitol, I'm Fanna Haile-Selassie
 


Intro: Recent school shootings don't change the opinion of the Senate Education Chairman that school districts should deal with school security.

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Senator Gary Nodler, the chairman of the Education Committee, says school security is the responsibility of local school administrators and school boards.

He says the level of security depends on the location of each school.

 

Actuality:  NODLER.WAV
Run Time: 00:10
Description: Local school boards have different levels of security based on their location

The spokesperson for Missouri's Department of Education, Jim Morris said the state does require all Missouri schools to have a crisis plan.

The sister program of the department, the Center for Safe Schools, helps education leaders to create better crisis plans.

From the State Capitol, I'm Fanna Haile-Selassie