SCRANTON (April 4, 2013) – AFTPA Executive Vice President Rosemary Boland testified before the House Democratic Policy Committee on school safety, saying it’s impossible to discuss school safety without addressing school funding issues.
“One thing that will not improve school safety is assigning armed guards to schools or training school staff on the use of firearms,” she told legislators on the committee. “At a time when state funding for public education has been cut so severely, school districts have increased class size, cut school counseling services, and slashed school health services because of decreasing funding from the state. Adequate school counseling, health services and manageable class sizes are essential to ensuring school safety. Providing these should be the debate in Harrisburg, not arming teachers.”
Read Rosemary Boland's testimony.
State Rep. Kevin Haggerty, D-Lackawanna, requested the hearing and served as co-chairman. The hearing looked at the impact of education funding cuts to local schools as well as school safety issues.
Haggerty has introduced House Bill 196, which would provide funding for public school resource officers in elementary schools.
“We have an obligation to educate our kids, and providing an environment where they feel safe can aid in their learning,” Sturla said. “Representative Haggerty is taking a comprehensive look at Pennsylvania’s education system and ways we can maximize our investment in our children.”
“There are a growing number of states across the country that use allocations from the state’s General Fund for school safety and resource officers,” Haggerty said. "It's time for us to step up and do the same. School-safety funding has been my legislative priority since I took office, and I will certainly continue by incorporating this feedback into my work.