On Friday, Governor Larry Hogan submitted a supplemental budget that will provide increased funding for the Maryland Center for School Safety, which is the state’s office that’s responsible for providing a coordinated and comprehensive policy for school safety in Maryland.
“Our one-of-a-kind Maryland Center for School Safety allows us to share safety information in near real-time among school security personnel, school administrators, law enforcement, and homeland security staff, while also providing technical assistance and training for our school personnel,” said Governor Hogan.
The governor’s supplemental budget provides $2.5 million in operating funds to the center to hire analysis, social media trackers, allocate personnel and resources in more regions of the state. The personnel will also assist schools in conducting safety assessments and implementing new safety standards.
In addition to requiring all school systems to conduct an annual school safety assessment, develop plans, address behavioral threats and emergency situations, the legislation will also require training and certification for all school resource officers and security staff.
The budget also provides an additional $2.5 million in grant funding that will go directly to schools so that they can conduct the required assessments with oversight from the center.
“Government at all levels is grappling with what more can be done to keep kids safe,” said Governor Hogan. “In addition to the $125 million for school safety enhancements and $50 million in annual grants announced this week, submitting this supplemental budget is something we are doing right now, today, to make our schools safer for our children.”
