KDSN RADIO News
Iowa school safety assessment teams’ bill sent to the governor
The legislature has sent the governor a bill to let schools assemble “safety assessment teams” that could share information about students who might pose a threat.
Republican Senator Dan Dawson of Council Bluffs said people from the local, county, and state offices could be part of these teams, “to try to identify potential problems sooner and get the needed intervention.”
Local police, juvenile court officials, mental health counselors, and social workers could be part these teams alongside school officials. The bill also would let state agencies and schools share information on students they believe may pose a threat to others. Republican Representative Henry Stone of Forest City said collaboration among educators, law enforcement, and social service professionals is already happening, but there are some hurdles now to sharing information.
“Threats directed toward the safety of our children at school are on the rise across the country,” Stone said. “…All this bill does is if a school chooses to participate, it will give that school a tool that they can utilitize to break that communication barrier.”
Stone said schools must still adhere to laws that prohibit the disclosure of sensitive health information and student education records. The Iowa Department of Public Safety proposed the legislation, which is headed to the governor for approval. The bill cleared the Senate unanimously a month ago and the House gave it unanimously approval yesterday.
