AG Laxalt lists safety measures for schools
Includes ‘red flag’ laws, more police presence
Nevada Attorney General Adam Laxalt released a wide-ranging set of recommendations on school safety Thursday, but there’s no clear idea of what the measures might cost or who would foot the bill.
The report stems from a school safety summit Laxalt held in March with education and safety officials after a Feb. 14 shooting at a school in Parkland, Florida, reignited the national conversation on school safety nation- wide. During that summit, he stressed prioritizing the physical safety and “hardening” of schools to make it more difficult for an assailant to enter campus.
“Our goal was to provide as much information as humanly possible,” Laxalt, the Republican candidate for governor, told the Las Vegas Review-journal on Thursday.
On funding, he said it would be a “balancing act” that would be up to the next Legislature and governor to work on.
The seven major themes of the report include increasing police presence, adding new safety features, improving communication between schools and law enforcement officials and enacting “red flag” laws to evaluate potential threats with a nexus to mental illness or domestic violence.
Governor Brian Sandoval, who also convened a school safety task force in the wake of the Parkland shooting, declined to comment on the report. Laxalt said he will send the report to the governor’s task force for consideration.
Recommendation details
Laxalt recommends districts attempt to move toward having a police officer in every school, though the report recognizes that is often cost prohibitive, particularly in rural areas.
LAXALT
The report incorrectly notes the officers serving in Clark County schools are Metropolitan Police Department officers. The school district has its own police department, which often works with Metro when responding to incidents.
There are some physical recommendations, including more clearly marking school buildings from the outside to ensure law enforcement can find the right location, increasing perimeter fencing and having one entry on all campuses. The report also recommends reducing shrubbery outside the school so an active assailant cannot hide.
The Legislature would need to take up many of the other items in the report. Laxalt recommends clarifying an exemption to the state’s public records law so that law enforcement can share emergency response plans confidentially. He wants to expand some privacy measures through a new anti-bullying app, called Safe Voice, by changing the Nevada Administrative Code.
Christy Mcgill, who works in the Nevada Department of Education and oversees anti-bullying efforts, said in a statement the recommendations would be helpful as conversations around school safety continue.
“Teamwork will be key as schools, law enforcement, students, parents, community and mental health come together to create safe and respectful schools,” she said.
Laxalt also issued a memorandum on the Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act to clarify when it’s appropriate for school districts to immediately share information with law enforcement.
The report also does not mention whether Laxalt thinks districts should take advantage of a Nevada law that allows principals to give employees written permission to carry guns in schools. On Thursday, he reiterated he thinks that should be a local decision.
“It’s certainly not something we talked about as a statewide solution,” he said.
Most of the state’s 17 districts — including Clark County — do not allow principals to give teachers permission, although there’s been increased conversation around the topic.
Background check law
The campaign for Steve Sisolak, the Democrat running for governor, cited Laxalt’s conclusion that a voter-approved background check law cannot be legally enforced as reason to dismiss the attorney general’s safety plan.
“Adam Laxalt can’t even be trusted to work to enforce the voter-approved background check law,” campaign press secretary Christina Amestoy said.
“As governor, Steve will take every common-sense step he can to keep our children safe.”
Contact Meghin Delaney at 702-383-0281 or mdelaney@ reviewjournal.com. Follow @ Meghindelaney on Twitter.