Task force created to keep school safe

State Rep. Carol Sente, D-Vernon Hills, participated in the inaugural meeting of the School Security and Standards Task Force Monday, Aug. 24. Sente helped create the task force of legislators, law enforcement officials and educators to form a comprehensive approach to school safety.

"We need to ensure that when our children go to school, they are provided with a safe, secure learning environment where they feel comfortable," Sente said.

"By incorporating my professional, private-sector background in the architecture arena and legislative experience advocating for our youth, education and public safety, I hope to make this a reality in Illinois."

Sente helped to establish the School Security and Standards Task Force by sponsoring Senate Bill 1931 in 2013. The measure is now law, and Sente was appointed to serve on the task force. The task force membership is composed of a bipartisan group of legislators, as well as representatives from the Illinois State Police, Illinois Sheriffs' Association, Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police, the Illinois Firefighters Association, the education community and the private security sector.

The task force will study the security of schools, make recommendations and ultimately draft minimum standards for use by Illinois schools.

"The dynamic range of expertise that will be offered by law enforcement, firefighters, educators, security specialists and parents on the task force will prove invaluable as we search for how to best keep students and their teachers safe," Sente said.

"It is my hope that many positive bill ideas and statewide standards will be generated through our discussions as we work to identify a comprehensive approach to school safety that will help prevent future tragedies."