FRANKFORT,Ky — High schoolers from across the state presented their report, which outlined a plan for improving safety at Kentucky schools Tuesday. The teenagers are members of the Kentucky Department of Education’s Commissioner’s Student Advisory Council.
The report is split into three categories, each with its own recommendations.
It lists improvements for what should happen to prevent or minimize the chance of an active shooter situation, ensuring the best response should one happen, and how to support a community impacted by tragedy.
Representative James Tipton, R-Taylorsville, chairman of the House Education Committee, was also in attendance. Tipton said he plans on sharing the group's findings with other lawmakers.
“Hopefully we can make some improvements to what we are currently doing through this process,” Tipton said.
Among the group's recommended changes is increasing awareness of the STOP Tipline, an anonymous reporting tool used in Kentucky schools.
“The safe school initiative found that 66% of attackers were engaged in concerning behaviors prior to the attack that went unreported,” Delaney Daugherty, who attends Butler County High School, said.
The council would also like to see more staff intervention when students experience concerning behavior.
On the topic of active shooter drills, they believe adjustments should be made to how they are done.
“We suggest that each teacher be informed when the drill will be taking place two weeks in advance. We also want to make sure students are aware of the drill. This allows students to prepare themselves mentally but also allows them time to reach out for help if they feel they need it or to opt out of the drill,” Joud Dahleh, who attends the Ignite Institute in Boone County, said.
The council also recommends more training for school staff and law enforcement on responding to an active shooter.
After the eight-page report was presented, Tipton praised the high school students for their hard work.
“I was very impressed by the work that the students put into this project. It was obvious they took this subject seriously, they’re concerned about it, and they just didn’t halfway do it, they actually researched it, put together the data, which when we’re making decisions in the general assembly that’s very important,” Tipton said.
One student committee member said he feels their voices were heard.
“Our meeting with Representative Tipton today was a great success ad a great first step in trying to meet with more stakeholders and trying to bring this brief to a greater audience,” Peter Jefferson, who attends Henry Clay High School in Fayette County said.
Work on the report began last summer in the wake of the Uvalde, Texas school shooting.
In the aftermath of one of the worst school shootings in American history, the changes presented by this group of high schoolers paints a pathway toward preventing something like what happened at Robb Elementary School from happening again.
In 2019, the Kentucky legislature passed senate bill one in the wake of the Marshall County High School shooting. SB-1 aimed to overhaul the safety needs of Kentucky schools.
Five years later, Tipton believes the suggestions offered today can improve on what’s already happening to protect students.
Students who are interested in serving on the advisory council next school year are encouraged to apply online. Kentucky high school students provide input to Kentucky Education Commissioner Jason E. Glass. Applications are due by March 9. Applications can be filled out here.