Governor Bill Haslam created a school safety task in the wake of the Parkland, Florida school shooting. Now, nearly three months after the task force started, plans are in place to better protect students.
Right now, all the meetings are finished and input has been received from a wide range of people in Tennessee. The only teacher that's on the force said this summer, the city schools in Clinton will be getting resources that could save a life.
"Shatter proof film for the inside of our doors here and bullet proof glass in areas where our Student Resource Officers are situated," Abbey Kidwell, a 4th grade teacher at South Clinton Elementary School, said.
Another big part of the security plan is to have trained professionals come into every school in Tennessee and assess each building to see if they are, in fact, prepared for a worse case scenario situation. Then they'll be able to see where extra money needs to go.
"That is in place and actively happening," Kidwell said.
Kidwell said those changes should come as soon as this summer in the three middle schools in the city of Clinton.
"I can't wait for the changes. Sandy Hook was a turning point for me personally. I didn't know something so terrible could happen at an elementary school. I go to work with my mind set on my kids and loving them like those teachers did today. Even in the sleepiest of towns there can be a nightmare," Kidwell said.
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