Appointed by Governor: Donald T. Bridges; Michael G. Caruso, Ph.D.; Christopher F. Drummond, Esq.; Robert A. Ginter; Kathleen M. Lyon; Jillian Shpuntoff; Corrine Ung.
Appointed by Senate President: Gwendolyn T. Britt
Appointed by House Speaker: Nancy J. King
Appointed by State Superintendent of Schools: Lorraine Anders; Jane Brandt; Patricia Cook-Ferguson; Cynthia Shulmeyer; Elizabeth Weller.
Appointed by Maryland Association of Boards of Education: John A. Hayden III; Patricia B. O'Neill.
Ex officio: Marlene Trestman, designee of Attorney General; Ann E. Chafin, designee of State Superintendent of Schools; Maj. Walter F. Landon, designee of Secretary of State Police.
Staff: Kelly Coston, Dominic M. Romano
c/o Division of Student, Family, & School Support, State Dept. of Education
Nancy S. Grasmick State Education Building, 200 West Baltimore St., Baltimore, MD 21201
(410) 767-0301, (410) 767-4420
e-mail: kcoston@msde.state.md.us
e-mail: dromano@msde.state.md.us
In October 2006, the Task Force on School Safety was appointed (Chapter 426, Acts of 2006).
Methods to address student violence in public schools, and provide a safe learning environment for students will be considered by the Task Force. The impact of students who exhibit chronic, escalating patterns of misbehavior will be evaluated by the Task Force as will the use of suspension and expulsion to control behavior. The safety of students traveling to and from school also will be gauged. Video surveillance cameras, metal detectors, and other security devices to monitor safety will be considered.
The Task Force will recommend ways to ensure that school and public safety officials respond effectively to crises involving student violence, accidental injury and loss, natural disasters, or exposure to hazardous substances. In addition, the use of emergency management and law enforcement officers to train and provide technical assistance to county school personnel is to be examined as it relates to crisis response team development; crisis management planning; safe schools planning; site surveys and safety audits; emergency operations planning; search and seizure; and model school safety plans.
Authorization for the Task Force ends December 31, 2007.
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