Governor Charlie Baker has announced plans to invest 40-million-dollars to improve safety and security at Massachusetts schools. Baker says he's asking the legislature to allocate the money for his proposal that seeks to harden safety of schools across the state. The supplemental budget request includes various school safety initiatives, including new training for students, staff and emergency responders.
Education Commissioner Jeff Riley says the proposals would be welcomed additions to safety planning of school districts.
Meantime, in Springfield Mayor Dom Sarno and Superintendent Dan Warwick appeared at the annual Teachers Convocation in Springfield.
“Our Springfield Public Schools have made great and positive strides since I took office as Mayor and under the leadership of Superintendent Warwick,” Mayor Sarno continued. “When I took office our city’s graduation rate was hovering around 50% and the dropout rate was nearly 14%. I am now proud to state that our graduation rate is nearly 86% and our dropout rate is down to 1.9% - the highest improvements in the State. This monumental change is a result of hard work and dedication thanks to the Superintendent of Schools and SPS staff, our principals, teachers, students and their families and the School Committee. In addition, working with the Massachusetts School Building Authority, we have invested well over $750 million in building new schools and making major renovations with other throughout the City, again the most in the Commonwealth," Sarno said.
Springfield Schools start the school year on Monday.
(Photo by George Frey/Getty Images)
Photo: Getty Images