Millett bill would prioritize funding for security upgrades in schools

A bill by Sen. Rebecca Millett, D-Cape Elizabeth, to prioritize funding for essential upgrades to school security systems through Maine’s School Revolving Renovation Fund received a public hearing before the Legislature’s Education and Cultural Affairs Committee on Monday.

LD 1858 “An Act To Include Security Installations and Upgrades in Maine’s School Revolving Renovation Fund” clarifies that “safety,” which is already a “priority one” repair, explicitly includes “installations or improvements necessary to increase school facility security.”

“Between the horrific events in Parkland last month and the repeated threats resulting in the closure of Maine schools, it is clear that we must take some action as lawmakers to keep our children in schools safer,” said Sen. Millett. “Current statute lacks clarity as to what qualifies as “safety” and this bill simply would state clearly that security upgrades or installations qualify.”

The Maine School Boards Association, Maine School Superintendents Association and the Maine Education Association also spoke in favor of the bill.

“Schools in Maine are old and many kids still attend schools that were built nearly 100 years ago,” said John Kosinski of the Maine Education Association. “They were not built with guns and tragedy in mind. The MEA supports LD 1858 to help schools best prepare for something we hope never happens.”

No one spoke in opposition to LD 1858 at the hearing.

LD 1858 faces further action in the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee as well as votes in the House and Senate.