The South Carolina Coalition for Safer Schools is a collaboration of advocacy associations that are dedicated to the well-being of children in the Palmetto State. This coalition, which includes the Palmetto State Teachers Association (PSTA), the South Carolina Counseling Association, the South Carolina Association of School Psychologists, the Institute for Child Success and the South Carolina section of the American Academy of Pediatrics, recently released their recommendations for improving school safety in South Carolina. The coalition believes that public support is essential for holding elected officials accountable and making sure that their recommendations are implemented. To this end, they have proposed a bill that would create a center for school safety and selective violence under the purview of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED).
This center would be responsible for improving school facilities, regulating the counselor-to-student ratio in South Carolina schools, ensuring that all schools have school resource officers (SROs), and addressing firearm theft. Patrick Kelly, director of Government Affairs at the Palmetto State Teachers Association, believes that these measures are necessary to ensure a safe learning environment for students. He stated that “this is just a matter of common sense in South Carolina”. The coalition is hopeful that their recommendations will be taken seriously and implemented in order to create a safer school environment for all students.
