The Arkansas commission’s recommendations—none of which are mandatory for schools and districts—call for positive school climate programs that deter bullying behaviors, an “armed presence” on campus, and revisions to the state’s funding for school construction to accommodate safety and security upgrades.
The Arkansas School Safety Commission on Monday presented to Gov. Asa Hutchinson its final, 124-page report — including 30 recommendations, commentary and resources — on ways to improve the safety of students and staff in Arkansas’ schools.
Hutchinson, whose 68th birthday was Monday, called the commission’s work “an extraordinary exercise that exceeded my expectations.”
The governor created the 18-member safety commission last March in the aftermath of the Feb. 14 killing of 17 students and staff members by an intruder at a Parkland, Fla., high school.
