Washoe County School Board Approves Panic Alert System for Schools

NEVADA – The Washoe County School Board convened on Tuesday to discuss various topics, with school safety being the main focus. During the meeting, the board reviewed the Student Behavior Manual for the upcoming school year, deliberated over possible policies for arresting students, and listened to feedback from the public who requested more oversight for students. However, the primary issue on the agenda was the proposal for a panic alert system for schools.

After careful consideration and deliberation, the Washoe County School Board unanimously voted 7-0 in favor of approving the panic alarm system. The system will allow teachers and staff to wear badges that can instantly send out calls for assistance in times of crisis.

The board emphasized that it is time to equip teachers with the necessary tools to prevent them from becoming victims and to give them back the power to protect themselves and their students.

According to one trustee, “Empowering our teachers is crucial. No one wants to feel like a victim. It’s very stressful and exhausting, and this system could provide a sense of control and security to the teachers, making them less vulnerable to harm.”

Numerous members of the public also expressed their support for the decision and believe that the next critical area to focus on should be student discipline.

The approval of the panic alert system comes with a yearly subscription cost of $4.5 million over the course of five years for the Washoe County School District.

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