Governor Lee Announces Measures to protect Tennessee Schools

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) — In the wake of the June’s mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee signed executive order 97, providing additional resources to help parents, teachers, and law enforcement protect students.

Now, Lee is outlining the effects of that order, beginning with thousands of families now using the SafeTN app, which allows users to anonymously report safety concerns at school.

“To date, more than ten thousand Tennesseans are using this resource, with a record almost 2,000 downloads this month,” said Lee.

Behavioral Health Liaisons have been expanded to schools in all 95 counties, and mobile crisis providers have been made available to families across the state through the 9-8-8 emergency number.

To ensure security against threats, almost every school in the state has undergone physical security assessments.

“98 percent of our schools, to date, have completed physical safety inspections. More than 1,800 schools have already submitted safety assessments. Over a hundred school districts have participated in school safety training. That’s more than two thirds of our school districts,” said Lee.

More than 600 school resource officers have received updated training as a result of the executive order, and hands-on active shooter training courses have been provided officers in all three grand divisions.

As the initiative to secure Tennessee’s schools moves ahead, Governor Lee hopes to secure more funding for school safety.

“The Tennessee Department of Education has asked to use the remaining federal relief funds that we have for school safety. While we are awaiting a response from the federal government, we are hopeful that these additional dollars can be used to protect our students and our teachers,” said Lee.