On Monday, Governor Brian Kemp proposed a one-time additional $50 Million to spend on school safety. Schools already receive $109 Million in the continued budget and this would be in addition to that. The money is placed in the July 1, continuing budget and is the first time Georgia’s public schools have gotten ongoing funding instead of one-time safety grants. Governor Kemp sets the limit on how much lawmakers can spend. So, he had to recommend the spending in his proposed budget or lawmakers would have to shift dollars from other areas.
Governor Kemp explains, “All of these investments were planned with the goal of making our schools even safer.” The $50 Million would give each of Georgia’s more than 2,000 public schools another $21,635 to spend on safety, atop the $47,125 they’re already getting, according to the Governor.
He would also like to see the state boost funding on school psychologists by $872,000. That would provide an estimated 16 more school psychologists statewide, or one for every 2,420 students.
State Superintendent, Richard Woods, along with educational advocacy groups, have been seeking spending on counselors and mental health clinicians hoping that they will intervene with students before they can become a threat to themselves or anyone else.
However, Woods would like to see more spending on the state’s Apex mental health program. It pays for mental health services for students. Currently it is a voluntary program serving only about one third of Georgia’s schools. Woods has also called for direct funding of crisis alert systems and placing police officers in every school.
According to Woods, “The process has just started, and we’ll continue to engage…but anytime we see additional money like that, we’re very pleased.” He also said he is not giving up on his proposals.
Governor Kemp supports Apex, but said it’s difficult to find licensed counselors and other professionals. Governor Kemp is also interested in funding crisis counseling training by the Southern Regional Education Board for 20 counselors from public schools and colleges.
Last year when the $109 Million was agreed upon by Governor Kemp and Lawmakers for school safety spending they agreed they wanted the money to pay for at least one security officer at each school. However, according to local superintendents, the full cost for a school resource officer is significantly higher.
Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and House Speaker Jon Burns, both Republicans, said they support Kemp’s plans.
Jones renewed his call for a law mandating wearable panic buttons for teachers and school employees. Burns reiterated his calls for a program of information sharing among education, child welfare and juvenile court agencies in hopes such data will help officials better assess threats from students. In addition, Jones repeated his call to earmark fines from automated school zone speeding cameras for school safety.