School safety, construction bill passes in state Senate

OLYMPIA - The state Senate's passing of a $475 million school-construction bill Monday includes $10 million for school-security improvements in Washington's public schools.

The bill will also support school-security measures, including a bill to install silent panic-alarm systems in schools to improve law enforcement response time. Newly constructed schools or schools that undergo an extensive remodel would have an "optimal level of security" incorporated, including security cameras and electric door locks.

Public testimony supporting the bill mentioned the deadly Dec. 14 school shooting in Newtown, Conn., as well as five more school shootings since then.

"We need to protect kids," according to a staff summary of testimony.

The legislation also allows funds to be available sooner and should cover school-district requests for the next two years.

Sen. Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, said bond sales of $475 million can be transferred to the state school-construction account as soon as the measure is passed by the House and signed by the governor.

"This goes to all three of our coalition's top priorities," Schoesler said of the measure.

"It's good for education because, less than one month into the legislative session and on the eve of many school district bond-issue elections, the matching funds those districts need from the state will be available sooner."

Traditionally, money for school construction is part of the capital budget and is not adopted until late in the legislative session.

Schoesler, who began serving the 9th Legislative District in 1993, said passing the bill shows the Senate Majority Coalition Caucus is focused on improving education.

"From the start our coalition has been about moving good ideas ahead, and this is one of the best ideas I've seen," he said about the bill.

Sen. Linda Evans Parlette, R-Wenatchee, said the bill represents the top priorities of the bipartisan coalition including creating jobs, improving education and creating a responsible budget. Parlette is a co-sponsor of the bill.

"The construction of new schools creates jobs and safer facilities for our students to learn in," Parlette said. "We're also putting education first by funding the school construction portion of the capital budget separately."