Panel: School Resource Officers are Primary Way to Combat School Shootings

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2018/03/Huff2.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:1920;s:6:"height";i:1222;s:4:"file";s:17:"2018/03/Huff2.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:13:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:17:"Huff2-336x214.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:214;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:5:"large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:17:"Huff2-771x491.jpg";s:5:"width";i:771;s:6:"height";i:491;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:17:"Huff2-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:12:"medium_large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:17:"Huff2-768x489.jpg";s:5:"width";i:768;s:6:"height";i:489;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"1536x1536";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:18:"Huff2-1536x978.jpg";s:5:"width";i:1536;s:6:"height";i:978;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:15:"Huff2-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:17:"Huff2-600x338.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:338;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:17:"Huff2-600x600.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:600;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:17:"Huff2-489x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:489;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:17:"Huff2-416x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:416;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:28:"ab-block-post-grid-landscape";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:17:"Huff2-600x400.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:400;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:25:"ab-block-post-grid-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:17:"Huff2-600x600.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:600;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:17:"Huff2-125x125.jpg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}s:10:"image_meta";a:12:{s:8:"aperture";s:1:"0";s:6:"credit";s:0:"";s:6:"camera";s:0:"";s:7:"caption";s:0:"";s:17:"created_timestamp";s:1:"0";s:9:"copyright";s:0:"";s:12:"focal_length";s:1:"0";s:3:"iso";s:1:"0";s:13:"shutter_speed";s:1:"0";s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:11:"orientation";s:1:"0";s:8:"keywords";a:0:{}}}
        )

    [_imagify_optimization_level] => Array
        (
            [0] => 0
        )

    [_imagify_data] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:2:{s:5:"sizes";a:10:{s:4:"full";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:45:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2018/03/Huff2.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:1661936;s:14:"optimized_size";i:535145;s:7:"percent";d:67.799999999999997;}s:9:"thumbnail";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:53:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2018/03/Huff2-140x140.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:8763;s:14:"optimized_size";i:8215;s:7:"percent";d:6.25;}s:6:"medium";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:53:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2018/03/Huff2-336x214.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:25333;s:14:"optimized_size";i:23902;s:7:"percent";d:5.6500000000000004;}s:5:"large";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:53:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2018/03/Huff2-771x491.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:111394;s:14:"optimized_size";i:105663;s:7:"percent";d:5.1399999999999997;}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:51:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2018/03/Huff2-80x80.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:3595;s:14:"optimized_size";i:3350;s:7:"percent";d:6.8200000000000003;}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:53:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2018/03/Huff2-600x338.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:63192;s:14:"optimized_size";i:59683;s:7:"percent";d:5.5499999999999998;}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:53:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2018/03/Huff2-300x300.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:30890;s:14:"optimized_size";i:29105;s:7:"percent";d:5.7800000000000002;}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:53:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2018/03/Huff2-489x311.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:48526;s:14:"optimized_size";i:45710;s:7:"percent";d:5.7999999999999998;}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:53:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2018/03/Huff2-416x265.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:36862;s:14:"optimized_size";i:34760;s:7:"percent";d:5.7000000000000002;}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:53:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2018/03/Huff2-125x125.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:7356;s:14:"optimized_size";i:6870;s:7:"percent";d:6.6100000000000003;}}s:5:"stats";a:3:{s:13:"original_size";i:1997847;s:14:"optimized_size";i:852403;s:7:"percent";d:57.329999999999998;}}
        )

    [_imagify_status] => Array
        (
            [0] => success
        )

    [_media_credit] => Array
        (
            [0] => Sherrel Wheeler Stewart
        )

    [_navis_media_credit_org] => Array
        (
            [0] =>  WBHM 90.3 FM
        )

    [_navis_media_can_distribute] => Array
        (
            [0] => 
        )

    [_edit_lock] => Array
        (
            [0] => 1526406339:74
        )

)
1654289332 
1532517680

Fatal school shootings, including one four months ago at Birmingham’s Huffman High School, has put school safety at top of mind for educators. Tuesday at the Kiwanis Club of Birmingham, a panel including superintendents, a teachers union official and others discussed how best to address active shooter situations.

There was little support among panelists for arming teachers or administrators. However, several spoke favorably of increasing the number of school resource officers or SROs. These are trained law enforcement officers tasked with keeping a school building safe. Hiring more SROs can be tough in poor, rural schools, which might also be farthest away from law enforcement.

Hoover Superintendent Kathy Murphy, formerly head of Monroe County Schools, said police would have had to travel 45 minutes to one school.

“I am troubled about those very isolated schools, such as the little school in Packard’s Bend, and what would they do?” she asked.

Earlier this year, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey announced a voluntary program to arm administrators at schools without SROs. Participating administrators would undergo training and be certified by the state. They would also keep the firearm in a locked safe.

The National Rifle Association often draws criticism when school shootings occur, but former NRA President Jim Porter said the group will consult with schools to develop security plans.

“These security programs are fashioned and tailored to the need of the requesting body whether it be a school or a school system,” Porter said.

Porter said there are NRA grants available to improve school safety. He said no schools in Alabama have applied.

 

Mark Hamill used to downplay his ‘Star Wars’ past. Now he’s embracing it

Hamill played Luke Skywalker, one of the most iconic heroes in movie history. His latest film, The Life of Chuck, is an adaptation of a Stephen King novella.

‘Jane Austen Wrecked My Life’ doesn’t live up to its namesake

Laura Piani's amiable new romance is weighed down by all its allusions and borrowings — and ultimately fails to deliver on Austen's wit.

Trump asks Congress to wipe out funding for public broadcasting

President Trump is asking lawmakers to claw back the $1.1 billion in federal subsidies for public broadcasting that Congress approved earlier this year. His request also includes cuts to foreign aid.

As soon as Jasmine.4.t came out, the music started pouring out of her

The British singer-songwriter's debut album, You Are The Morning, explores the joys and hardships of being a trans woman.

UAB opens new engineering school building

After two years of construction, the University of Alabama at Birmingham has a new home for its engineering school. Staff cut the ribbon for the Frances and Miller Gorrie Hall Tuesday morning.

Stabilizing ‘operations,’ the National Weather Service hires again after Trump cuts

The National Weather Service says it plans to hire more than 100 additional staff members. The move follows complaints and concerns after the Trump administration eliminated more than 500 positions.

More Education Coverage