Local plans urged on school violence

Thursday, Jan. 6, 2000 | 10:06 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- A state commission created after the school shooting in Colorado last year recommends that each of the 17 school districts and all charter schools in Nevada adopt a plan to respond to crises or emergencies.

The recommendation, which will be reviewed by Gov. Kenny Guinn, calls for the districts to update the plan every year. Included in the plans would be evacuation procedures and a list of who to call in cases of violence.

Michael Fitzgerald, a consultant for the state Department of Education, cautioned that school districts are already overburdened. The districts are now working with the new academic standards and a new required discipline plan.

"This may be overwhelming for some schools," he told the commission.

The commission also recommended that state law be amended to allow local districts to get state money to handle any crisis or major violence. And there must be money for training school officials in responding to emergencies, the commission said.

The commission also suggests that the state Board of Education be required to adopt regulations setting forth what should be included in the districts' emergency plans. The regulations would have to be approved by the Legislature.

The commission will now turn its attention to developing programs to reduce gang activity and violence and to restrict the access of firearms to juveniles.

Juliann Jenson, senior research analyst for the commission, said there is little consensus among the public and elected officials on the most effective way to curb youth violence.

"While some officials favor get-tough policies and punitive approaches to handling violent offenders, other argue for more rehabilitative programs," she said in a memo to the commission. "There is equally little agreement on gun control or the role that educational institutions should play in addressing youth violence.

"A balanced approach that includes prevention programs for high-risk youths and sanctions, accountability, and rehabilitation for violence offenders is likely to be most successful in reducing youth violence."