Session of 1999
         
House Concurrent Resolution No. 5018
         
By Committee on Education
         
2-2
         

  9             A  CONCURRENT  RESOLUTION urging all public and private ele-
10             mentary and secondary schools to create and update school crisis plans
11             and to facilitate implementation of such plans by training personnel
12             and conducting regular drills.
13      
14             WHEREAS,  The safety of the children of this State, particularly at
15       school, is of paramount concern to this State; and
16             WHEREAS,  During the 1997-98 school year, other States, including
17       Mississippi, Kentucky, Oregon, Arkansas and Pennsylvania, experienced
18       tragic occurrences involving weapons brought on to school property and
19       used against students and faculty; and
20             WHEREAS,  Violence and violent behavior crosses all social and eco-
21       nomic boundaries, and occurs in both urban and rural settings, making
22       every school susceptible; and
23             WHEREAS,  It has become clear that well-developed crisis plans are
24       an important tool in reducing the risk of injury and loss of life, thus aiding
25       in the protection of children and school personnel from such occurrences
26       while on school property: Now, therefore,
27             Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of Kansas,
28       the Senate concurring therein: That the Legislature of the State of Kan-
29       sas strongly urges every public and private elementary and secondary
30       school to create a school crisis plan tailored to that school, addressing the
31       procedure to be followed in the event of a crisis involving weapons
32       brought onto school property by intruders, students, faculty or staff of
33       the school, or any threat of such occurrence, and that such crisis plan be
34       updated regularly, staff and faculty be trained on implementation of the
35       plan and regular drills be conducted to practice the plan.
36             Be it further resolved: That the Secretary of State be directed to de-
37       liver enrolled copies of this resolution to the Commissioner of Education
38       and the chairperson of the State Board of Education.
39