NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – Tennessee Gov. Invoice Lee signed a faculty security invoice into legislation on Wednesday geared toward stopping college shootings and now, WSMV4 has discovered of some faculties slated to have these elevated security measures carried out.
The invoice requires all faculties constructed or transformed after July 1 to have bulletproof home windows and doorways.
Two Metro faculties scheduled to be constructed or renovated after July 2023, Percy Priest Elementary and Paragon Mills Elementary, “might be designed and constructed with the options required within the new legislation that was signed,” in accordance with a spokesman with Metro Nashville Public Colleges.
Melia Clark has a fourth grader at Percy Priest Elementary. The varsity went on lockdown when a gunman shot by means of glass to realize entry to The Covenant College, a couple of minutes away.
“I imply something they’ll do to forestall folks from doing that form of factor, from searching my child, is ideal,” Clark mentioned.
WSMV4 additionally requested Metro Colleges if it has addressed the necessities below the newly signed college security invoice.
“Our operations and services crew has been working with hearth and police officers to evaluate the modifications within the legislation and guarantee we’re in compliance with the modifications whereas additionally sustaining fire-life security requirements and first responder entry within the occasion of an emergency … It refers to creating positive firefighters or first responders can acquire entry and take away folks within the occasion of an emergency,” a spokesman mentioned.
Under is a listing of main initiatives with begin dates and anticipated completion dates from MNPS:
Venture Sort College Development Begin Date Anticipated Development Completion Date Substitute College Goodlettsville Elementary January 2022 August 2023 Substitute College Lakeview Elementary July 2023 August 2025 Substitute College Hillwood Excessive College September 2020 August 2023 Classroom Addition Cane Ridge Excessive College August 2022 December 2023 Classroom Addition Previous Middle Elementary Might 2023 August 2024 Addition & Renovation Paragon Mills Elementary September 2023 August 2025 Substitute College Percy Priest Elementary October 2023 August 2025 Band Room Addition Meigs Center College March 2023 October 2023 Observe Facility Improve Hunters Lane Excessive College February 2023 August 2023
Rutherford County Colleges mentioned it has acquired funding for 3 new excessive faculties, however the building is anticipated to begin in June, so it received’t be impacted by the invoice. The varsity system can be in search of funding for an elementary college.
“We now have not addressed this requirement but. It will likely be a part of our ongoing constructing program discussions shifting ahead,” a spokesman with RCS mentioned.
In the meantime, Wilson County Colleges mentioned the renovation of Mount Juliet Center College is anticipated to start this summer season or into the autumn semester. If it goes into the autumn semester, contractors might be working after college hours because it’s all inside work, in accordance with WCS.
The elementary college deliberate for Double Log Cabin Highway is at the moment within the planning levels and the following steps might be to acquire funding from the county fee, the varsity system mentioned. Director of Colleges Jeff Luttrell mentioned he hopes that the venture might be funded this summer season so work can start within the fall.
“We’re taking a look at some safety enchancment initiatives, however at the moment they’re within the starting stage as effectively. The Double Log Cabin property will even have a center college campus, however there isn’t any timeline for that venture,” a spokesman with WCS mentioned.
WSMV4 has additionally reached out to a number of different college districts close by if any faculties are scheduled to be constructed or transformed after July 1, and in the event that they’ve addressed the necessities below the brand new invoice. We’re nonetheless ready to listen to again.
The invoice, which requires enhanced safety measures in any respect Tennessee faculties, handed by means of the state legislature in April and was despatched to Lee’s desk to signal. The invoice invests $230 million to strengthen security at private and non-private faculties throughout Tennessee and locations a number of new necessities on faculties to cease one other college taking pictures. Gov. Invoice Lee launched the invoice after six folks, together with three youngsters, have been killed at The Covenant College in Nashville on March 27.
Whereas the invoice requires all faculties constructed or transformed after July 1 to have bulletproof home windows and doorways, an armed safety guard will even be positioned at each public college. The security invoice enacts a multi-tiered accountability plan to make sure exterior doorways are locked whereas college students are current, in accordance with a media launch from the governor’s workplace.
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