Larsen Leads Bill To Reauthorize School Safety Program

Source: Rep. Rick Larsen, WA-2
WASHINGTON, D.C. (link)—Today,Reps. Rick Larsen, WA-02, Mike Coffman, CO-06, and Suzan DelBene, WA-01, introduced a bill to help pay for improved security measures in schools, such as training for staff and students, and deterrents like lighting and locks. The School Safety Act of 2015 would reauthorize the Secure Our Schools program, which provides matching grants to local, state and tribal governments to meet schools’ individual security needs.
 
“Schools must be a place where our students feel safe. I introduced this bill to help schools and communities assess and meet their unique safety needs. Sadly our country has not seen the end of violent crimes. Congress must do much more to make our schools and communities safer and shrink the cycle of violence. This bill helps empower schools to focus on what they do best: teaching our students and preparing them for their futures,” Larsen said.
 
“School violence has hit my district and Colorado hard and I am committed to finding ways to make our schools safer. This bipartisan, common sense legislation will help fund important school safety programs across the country. From education to improved technology, our schools can be made safer through a comprehensive approach to dealing with school violence. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to stand with me in fighting to make our schools a safe place to learn,” Coffman said.
 
“I’m strongly committed to ensuring the safety and security of our students. While there is no one law that will prevent every single instance of senseless violence, like last year’s tragic shooting at Marysville-Pilchuck High School, we can and must do more. The School Safety and Security Act is an important first step and I’m honored to help introduce it. This bipartisan legislation will provide critical resources to keep our schools safe, ensure teachers and administrators are adequately trained in security procedures, and improve notification and response technologies in schools across the country,” DelBene said.
 
Violence in schools has continued at a steady pace in recent years, with tragic shootings at Marysville-Pilchuck High School in Marysville, Wash., in October 2014, and at Arapahoe High School in Centennial, Colo., in December 2013.
 
The Washington State School Directors’ Association has endorsed the bill.
 
The Secure Our Schools program takes a comprehensive approach to preventing violence in schools based on schools’ unique needs. Matching funds can pay for physical deterrents, security assessments, security training and coordination with local law enforcement. The Act reauthorizes the program and updates it to allow funding to cover emergency communications systems with local law enforcement. 

Become a WSU Snohomish County Extension Beach Watcher

 

 

Do you love to spend time at the beach?   Do you want to craft your own volunteer experience?  Then become a WSU Snohomish County Extension Beach Watcher. Receive in-depth training and help protect Puget Sound’s waters, wildlife and landscape through education, research and stewardship.

Receive 80 hours of intensive core training by local experts in classrooms and in field locations and 20 hours of experiential training. Then, continue learning while volunteering at least 100 hours over two years on education, research or restoration projects that you select. Projects range from doing low-tide education at beaches to fish egg sampling to newsletter article writing. You can join a team or work on your own. You are also welcome to bring your own ideas!

The core training will be offered every Friday between April 3 – May 16 AND September 11 – October 16 from 9 AM – 3:30 PM.  The training is based out of McCollum Park, 600 128th St. SE, Everett and there is a $35 materials fee (waivers available).  Applications are due on March 13, however we will begin reviewing them as they are received, so don’t wait to get your applications in!

For more information, please contact Chrys Bertolotto at chrys@wsu.edu<https://connect.wsu.edu/owa/redir.aspx?C=8cd813c882ab4296860d18eee9532e37&URL=mailto%3achrys%40wsu.edu> or (425)-357-6020, or check our website at http://www.beachwatchers.wsu.edu/snohomish/training/index.htm.  The training application, flyer and a cover letter are attached.

The WSU Snohomish County Extension Beach Watcher training is jointly funded by Snohomish County, the City of Mukilteo and Washington Department of Ecology.

2015SnoBeachWatcherFlyer

M’ville students learn about cardiac arrest

Marysville-Pilchuck senior Jason Kent practices CPR.— image credit: Brandon Adam
Marysville-Pilchuck senior Jason Kent practices CPR.
— image credit: Brandon Adam

 

By: Brandon Adam, Arlington Times, August 29, 2014

 

MARYSVILLE — The Marysville School District was visited by the Nick of Time Foundation at Marysville Getchell High School.

The school district was on the wait list for three years, and they decided that the MG campus would be the best meeting ground for Marysville students this week.
Nick of Time aims to raise awareness of sudden cardiac arrest, the leading cause of death in young people during exercise.
Nick of Time travels to various schools in Washington to promote its message.
“Kids need to know that their hearts are healthy,” executive director Darla Varentti said.
Varentti’s son, Nicholas “Nicky” Varrenti, was a victim of sudden cardiac arrest.  The 16-year-old was a standout football player for Mill Creek High School in 2004, but died of sudden cardiac arrest in his sleep.
The foundation was started in 2006 to educate students and schools about the risk and procedures dealing with sudden cardiac arrest.
Students from MG, Marysville-Pilchuck and Tulalip Heritage were scanned for potential heart defects, trained in CPR and the use of the automated external defibrillators.
“The AED is the only thing that can save you during a cardiac arrest,” Varrenti said.
Doctors use an echograph and sonograph to look for electrical and structural anomalies in the heart that could trigger a cardiac arrest.
“You can’t just hear it,” Varrenti said. “You have to see it.”
“I got to talk to a doctor, and I want to be one someday so that’s really cool,” M-P senior David Gloyd said. “And I learned to do CPR.”
Varrenti was pleased with the turnout.
“It’s been great. We’re really happy,” Varrenti said. “We had close to 400 kids today.”