Through the General Assembly
A bill supported by State Rep. Jesse Vanderwende to improve school security is quickly moving through the General Assembly.
Sponsored by State Reps. Kevin Hensley (R-Townsend, Odessa, Port Penn) and co-sponsored by Rep. Vanderwende, House Bill 388 (as amended) would expand the scope of the Delaware School Safety and Security Fund to authorize school districts to use these appropriations to initially hire and retain school constables. Typically staffed by retired law enforcement personnel, constables serve as armed security for the schools in which they work.
Appropriations from the fund can already be used to purchase security equipment ( e.g. – cameras, remote door locks, swipe card systems, etc.) and conduct safety training exercises.
The bipartisan bill would earmark $10 million for the fund in the upcoming budget year that begins on Friday, July 1. The measure already cleared the House without a dissenting vote and was released from a Senate committee last week. The bill is expected to be considered in the Senate before the end of the week.
