The Ad Hoc Committee on Delaying Action

So, the Sumner County Commission now has an Ad Hoc Committee on School Safety and Implementation.

The list of Committee members includes police chiefs from across the County and exactly ONE school system employee.

It is not clear when the committee will hold its first meeting. 

It is not clear IF they will consider the School Board's recommendation for facility upgrades and additional School Resource Officers (SROs). 

Committee Co-Chair Jim Vaughn has been advocating spending zero additional dollars on school safety and instead has proposed arming teachers.  This in spite of serious physical issues that make many schools vulnerable.

Noteworthy, too, is the fact that the County Commission may make recommendations to the School Board, but the Board is not bound to implement them.  That is:  Unless these recommendations have buy-in from the Board, they won't happen. 

The Board has made a request and is continuing a school security review with an outside expert on the issue.  The Board is asking the Commission to fund that request, which includes facility improvements.  The Commission has yet to schedule a vote on the Board's proposal.

No one is talking seriously about the vulnerability of portable classrooms - a result of poor planning for community growth.  There is so far no discussion of a plan to rezone, improve/expand facilities, or build more schools in order to ensure that portables are nothing more than a temporary solution to a space problem. 

With no meeting date set, it seems likely that this Ad Hoc Committee will not present findings at the February 25th County Commission meeting.  Unless someone moves to add the School Board's proposal to the February agenda, it seems unlikely it will be addressed.  And then, on to March.  When will the Commission take up the issue of school safety and vote to approve or reject the necessary funds? Or, will they?