A bill proposed by New York State Senator Jacob Ashby and Assemblyman Scott Bendett would create a new certification for a school safety specialist position in schools. The position’s responsibilities would include developing safety policies, emergency response plans and mental health mentoring programs.
The proposed bill is not a mandate. No school district would be required to hire a school safety specialist, but the bill would ensure that if a school did, standardized certification would ensure statewide standards, Ashby said during a telephone interview.
“Our goal is to increase safety in schools – there are various nuances to that. This isn’t just about school shootings. The mental health and well-being of students are also at stake. We see a lot of threats to schools and we think this is a statewide opportunity to strengthen security measures,” Ashby said.
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When asked how the role would be different from that of police officers — called “school resource officers” or SROs in schools — and guidance counselors, Ashby said standardization and certification would make the difference. Someone without police training might also be eligible to take the certification, Ashby said.
“The entire program would be standardized to ensure the same quality, while maintaining autonomy appropriate to the differences between suburban and urban districts,” Ashby said.
Under state law, all SROs are required to complete juvenile safety and policing training. School systems must also have a security plan developed by a security team.
According to a core course taught in Steuben County, “courses will cover a wide variety of topics, including developing school partnerships, juvenile law, and emergency response tactics within a school.
“This (SRO) course will be presented by (New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services) instructors, educators, and certified experts in their respective fields,” the site says.
Ashby acknowledged the similarities in responsibilities between the roles of an SRO, guidance counselor, and the proposed new position of school safety specialist, and explained how certification would allow for a more affordable option for offering resources safety at schools.
Bendett said, “New York State has demanding certification requirements for school district business leaders. How is it possible that we don’t have the same when it comes to school safety? Most districts have a wide range of professionals and administrators. Our schools should have a professional dedicated to protecting our children,” Bendett said in the press release.
In addition to emergency preparedness, the position would encompass establishing policies and approaches to cybersecurity threats, intimidation, and more. The school safety specialist would prioritize the mental health status of students and help promote mental health resources.
“The last thing we want as elected officials is to wonder if we did everything we could to prevent a tragedy and protect our children in school. This bill is based on a comprehensive and proactive approach,” Ashby said.
The bill is currently in committee and has not yet been considered by the full Senate. No information has yet been published on the implications of the certification procedure.
