Public and private schools throughout Washington would get better, more consistent notification of dangerous events in their vicinity under a bill passed by the state Senate on Wednesday.
Republican Spokane Sen. Mike Padden says his measure focuses on school safety in the wake of tragedies like last fall’s fatal shooting at Freeman High School near Spokane.
Supporters say private schools sometimes don’t get warnings of dangerous events at nearby public schools.
The bill would also create two school safety centers – one in eastern Washington and one in western Washington. The centers would provide assistance and resources related to behavioral health, threat assessment, and suicide prevention.
In addition, the measure would permit private schools to contract with the regional school-safety centers for those services.
The bill now heads to the House for consideration. (KXLY, Spokesman-Review)
