S. Carolina: Governor wants armed police officer in every school

Mar 6, 2018, WBTV—Charlotte, NC: SC Superintendent of Education pushes SROs and mental health support for safe schools http://www.wbtv.com/story/37661885/sc-superintendent-of-education-pushes-sros-and-mental-health-support-for-safe-schools State and national leaders continue to debate over how we should protect our children in school following the Valentine’s Day massacre at a Florida school. In South Carolina, Governor Henry McMaster hosted a school safety summit in which state leaders from SLED, the Department of Mental Health and the Department of Education were there. “We must be sure we have an officer, a trained and certified police officer, armed in every school,” Governor McMaster said. In his 2018-2019 budget, the governor proposed a $5 million pilot program to fulfill that wish for 1-SRO in each school. His proposal also funds $250,000 for the Department of Mental Health’s school-based services. … She says they’re also working on a virtual training program for teachers so that they know what signs to look for in a potentially troubled student. … Clover schools and other districts across the state rely on the State Department of Mental Health for programs to assist students with mental illnesses. A Clover school district spokesperson says they are in talks with the Catawba Mental Health Facility to enhance the mental health support they already provide the school.