North Carolina's Governor Josh Stein has recently established a new council with the primary goal of enhancing student safety and well-being within the school environment. The Advisory Council on Student Safety and Well-Being is set to be a coalition of educators, mental health professionals, and law enforcement officials working in concert to provide a more secure and supportive learning atmosphere for children across the state, as reported by the Office of the Governor.
The announcement, which took place at Moore Square Magnet Middle School, places emphasis on the fact that "North Carolina's children are our future," as Stein articulated, and it's imperative for them to "grow and learn in a safe environment that sets them on right trajectory to thrive." The council's formation comes with an understanding that the state has a fundamental responsibility to ensure the security of its students—a sentiment shared by Senate Democratic Leader and council co-chair Sydney Batch who stated, “Every child in North Carolina deserves the freedom to learn in a secure, supportive environment,” as per the Office of the Governor.
Another significant voice in this initiative is 2024 North Carolina Teacher of the Year Heather Smith, who brings firsthand classroom experience to the table. “What I've seen in my classroom is that if students don’t feel safe, if they are not supported, it’s so much harder for them to learn,” Smith told the Office of the Governor. There's a clear consensus among the leadership of the council that a nurturing school environment is inextricable from the quality of education and a student's capacity to succeed academically.
Deputy Secretary of Public Safety William "Billy" Lassiter highlighted the council's aim to enhance both the physical and psychological frameworks of North Carolina's educational institutions. Notably, he mentioned the importance of training school staff on how to recognize early warning signs that may lead to public safety threats. "We must use the tool at our disposal to upgrade the physical infrastructure of our schools,” Lassiter explained, “and train our school staff how to recognize and respond to the early warning signs that can lead to public safety threats.” This approach is a cornerstone in the council's broader strategy to equip schools with the resources they need to foster safety and mental well-being amongst students and staff alike, as per the Office of the Governor.
In terms of concrete action, one of the council's first initiatives will be to collaborate with the General Assembly in supporting school systems to implement policies aimed at making classrooms cell phone-free. This step is seen as an impactful way to reduce distractions and potential hazards in the learning environment, drawing upon shared best practices and policy guidance across state agencies and local communities.
