Representatives of public and private schools, social service agencies, juvenile justice and law enforcement met Thursday to discuss a subject of concern to everyone - school safety.

Hosted by Steven C. Foster, chief of Warsaw Police Department, the meeting was mostly organizational to decide how the committee members want to proceed.

The proposed "Countywide Safe School Commission" is a response to a recent state law allowing counties to establish commissions that will study and make recommendations on improving school security.

Indiana law also requires every Indiana school corporation to designate a school safety specialist, and those officers are included on the countywide commission.

After Thursday's discussion, commission members seemed most interested in pursuing two lines of inquiry: the safety and security of school buildings and facilities, and preventing problems and crises through educational alternatives.

Because of events across the country, safety is a major educational issue, Foster said.

"If you can't maintain a safe environment for your staff and your students, then where is the educational value?" he said.

The commission still needs to designate a chairman and set goals, Foster said.

For the next meeting, March 16, members will bring in lists of what they believe are the 10 most important issues the commission should address.

Foster also suggested commission members visit each other's schools to get a wider perspective on how security is being handled by others. [[In-content Ad]]