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Phoenixville, PA – Pennsylvania’s School Safety Task Force met today at the Pickering Campus of Technical College High School in Phoenixville to hear from students, parents, school officials, law enforcement, healthcare experts and residents about ways to improve school safety and security.
“As Governor, my top priority is ensuring the safety of all Pennsylvanians – especially our children,” said Governor Tom Wolf. “This task force is bringing together those who have a stake in school safety so that everyone has a seat at the table to help create real solutions.”
Auditor General Eugene DePasquale is co-chairing the task force that includes: Charles Ramsey, chairman of the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency; Mark DiRocco, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators; Bonita Allen, President of the Pennsylvania Parent Teacher Association; and Judy Morgitan, Immediate Past President of the Pennsylvania Association of School Nurses and Practitioners.
“The most students should ever have to worry about in school is a pop quiz in algebra class,” DePasquale said. “Students should never have to worry whether or not they will be able to survive the school day unharmed. It will take all of us – adults and students alike – to work together to ensure that all of our schools are safe places for students to grow and learn.”
This is the second of six task force meetings in Pennsylvania to gather perspectives from local communities before issuing a final report by the end of June.
The priorities for the task force are:
- Identifying recommendations to improve school safety;
- Determining funding needs;
- Examining the effectiveness of student supports;
- Improving information sharing; and
- Seeking tools for anonymous reporting of suspicious activity.
Supporting the work of the task force are Homeland Security Director Marcus Brown, Education Secretary Pedro Rivera, Health Secretary and Physician General Dr. Rachel Levine, Labor and Industry Secretary Jerry Oleksiak, and Acting Colonel Robert Evanchick, Pennsylvania State Police.
The public is invited to share their recommendations for improving schools security online at https://www.governor.pa.gov/school-safety-feedback/. The task force will use the feedback when preparing a final report.
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