Illinois officials to hold school safety summit
SPRINGFIELD — School administrators, teachers and law enforcement will meet today to discuss how to make Illinois schools safer.
Gov. Pat Quinn scheduled the school safety summit in the wake of the Connecticut school shooting.
Patti Thompson is spokeswoman for the Illinois Emergency Management Agency. She says the summit is a starting point for a conversation about ways to prevent school violence, improve emergency preparedness and make school buildings more secure.
Among the agencies invited to attend are the Illinois State Police, the State Board of Education and the Illinois Terrorism Task Force.
The (Springfield) State Journal-Register reports (http://bit.ly/SGGFUo ) the Springfield School District withdrew a proposal to eliminate three elementary school security personnel after the Connecticut shooting. District Spokesman Pete Sherman says district leaders have been reviewing school safety plans.