Schumer demands more money for school security

Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said he wants more federal funding for school security because some schools are being forced to dip into funds for education in order to ensure school safety.

“As a parent, I know that the safety, health, and success of our children are always at the front of the mind,” Schumer said. “We must do everything in our power to allow our schools to bolster their safety programs to make sure we have the tools at our disposal to better prevent the next Sandy Hook.”

{mosads}Schumer said Monday that federal funding for anti-violence efforts in schools has cut by more than $100 million during the last four years, leaving schools hard-pressed to prevent violent acts on school grounds.

Earlier this month in Murrysville, Pa., a high school student stabbed several classmates. And last year, a gunman killed 20 first-graders in Newtown, Conn., at Sandy Hook Elementary.

“Sandy Hook, Columbine, and the recent incident in Murrysville are national tragedies, and they remind us that we simply must invest more, not less, to keep our children safe at school,” Schumer said. “Sadly, federal support for school safety initiatives has declined steeply over the past few years, putting a strain on local school budgets and leaving important safety projects unfunded. All it takes is one student or one incident to change lives forever, which is why it’s time we right the ship and restore funding for these critical programs.”

Schumer said the Department of Education and Department of Justice should restore the funding to previous levels so that schools have money for to buy safety technology, provide safety training and pay school safety officers.