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Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf decided to create a School Safety Task Force after students across the United States walked out of class to protest gun violence.

Students demanded politicians to improve school safety and implement stricter gun control laws. They showed leadership and unity expressing that they could no longer tolerate inaction. They want change to keep their schools safe, to stop mass shootings like what happened at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida.

On Thursday, Gov. Wolf said the School Safety Task Force brings together government officials, law enforcement, school officials, parents, students, and other relevant stakeholders to discuss ways to improve school safety and security.

“Ensuring the safety of Pennsylvanians, especially our children, is my top priority as governor,” said Gov. Wolf.

Additionally, the governor explained that he is creating the School Safety Task Force to make sure that Pennsylvania schools are safe. He believes that they can find solutions to improve school safety, security, and preparedness by working together with those on the front lines.

Gov. Wolf and Pennsylvania Auditor General DePasquale will serve as co-chairman of the task force.

According to DePasquale, they will combine their experience and expertise with the knowledge of other members of the task force. They will raise the standards for school safety in Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania School Safety Task Force priorities

According to Gov. Wolf his priorities for the School Safety Task Force in Pennsylvania include the following:

• Hearing concerns about safety and potential policy changes from school officials, teachers, parents, students, law enforcement, etc.
• Determining additional funding needs for the Office for Safe Schools, security and safety personnel, school counselors and nurses, and additional or upgraded security equipment;
• Examining effectiveness of student support, physical and mental health programs as well as information sharing.
• Evaluating stronger state requirements for active shooter trainings and other security protocols. The evaluation includes current programs offered by the Pennsylvania State Police and other state agencies.
• Strengthening information sharing among local schools, law enforcement, health care providers, and human services programs.
• Examining new or existing tools to ensure easy and effective anonymous reporting of suspicious activity to law enforcement.

Governors and lawmakers in other states are also taking action to keep their schools safe from gun violence.

Last week, Florida Gov. Rick Scott signed into law a new bipartisan gun control, school safety legislation.

Last month, Governors Dan Malloy of Connecticut, Phil Murphy of New Jersey, Andrew Cuomo of New York, and Gina Raimondo of Rhode Island formed the “States for Gun Safety” coalition.