Gov. Beshear: 1,315 Kentucky Public Schools are Safety Compliant
Today, Gov. Andy Beshear announced that 1,315 public schools in the commonwealth are following statutory safety requirements required by the School Safety and Resiliency Act.
By signing House Bill 63, Gov. Beshear required every Kentucky public school campus to employ a school resource officer (SRO). As young Kentuckians begin another school year, there are 842 SROs assigned to public school campuses across the state. This is a more than 100% increase in employed SROs since the Governor took office, creating a safer New Kentucky Home for tomorrow’s leaders.
“I am proud that our public school systems put the safety of our children at the top of their priority list,” Gov. Beshear said. “With their safety secured, our children can focus on learning and making their dreams into reality.”
The Office of the State School Security Marshal is required by law to conduct annual unannounced visits to all public schools to verify compliance with state-mandated security measures and SRO requirements. The 2024-2025 School Safety Risk Assessment Report shows that schools are complying with statutorily mandated access control requirements regarding electronic-locking front doors, surveillance, locked classroom doors, classroom-window coverings and a threat-assessment team.
Kentuckians are encouraged to report information that may cause harm to schools to the STOP! Tipline at 866-393-6659 or safeschools.ky.gov. For additional resources on how to further protect children, watch this video on the Handle with Care Program.
Today’s positive news follows the Beshear-Coleman administration’s recent launch of the “Pre-K for All” initiative, which aims to advance the commonwealth’s public education system and job growth.
Shannon West appointed State School Security Marshal
Shannon West was appointed to serve as State School Security Marshal beginning July 16. West has been with the Department of Criminal Justice Training since July 2015, serving in the Training Operations Branch and as a law enforcement training instructor. Prior to joining the department, he served with the Kentucky State Police in numerous post-level leadership roles for over 20 years. He has also served the nation as a member of the United States Army and the commonwealth as a member of the Kentucky Army National Guard.
“There is no greater honor or responsibility than working to protect Kentucky’s most precious resource – our children,” said West. “As I step into this role, I am mindful of those who came before me, dedicated public servants who worked tirelessly to make our schools safer. I share that same commitment and passion, and I look forward to partnering with our schools and the Beshear-Coleman administration to continue making a meaningful difference for Kentucky’s students, families and communities.”
Click here for a video message from West.
The Beshear-Coleman administration’s top priority is the safety of all Kentuckians
The Governor's public safety actions are creating safer communities and a better Kentucky. Since taking office at the end of 2019, the Beshear-Coleman administration has consistently demonstrated their commitment to the safety of Kentucky’s children while on campus and in the classroom.
As an education-first administration, the Beshear-Coleman administration is dedicated to providing resources that provide safe, effective education to all of Kentucky’s children. To read more about the Governor’s public education priorities, click here. To read more about how the administration’s Better Kentucky Plan includes improving schools, click here.
In June, 21 officers graduated from the first basic training class from the Western Kentucky Law Enforcement Training Facility in Madisonville. The Beshear-Coleman administration welcomed the class in February. For the first time since basic training became mandatory in 1998, Kentucky is simultaneously offering training in two locations. The Department of Criminal Justice Training will train officers in a building provided by the Madisonville Police Department while Team Kentucky constructs a $50 million multipurpose training facility in Madisonville.
Recently, Gov. Andy Beshear was joined by members of the Cash family, the Kentucky law enforcement community and the Department of Criminal Justice Training to officially open the doors to the new law enforcement training facility named in honor of Jody Cash, who lost his life in the line of duty May 16, 2022, while serving as chief deputy of the Calloway County Sheriff’s Office. The Beshear administration broke ground on the Jody Cash Multipurpose Training Facility in July 2023. The facility is a 42,794-square-foot facility with a 50-yard, 30-lane firing range designed for officers to learn intensive and specialized training that will support training all of Kentucky’s law enforcement agencies.
Since taking office, Gov. Beshear has awarded nearly $12 million in grant funding to assist state and local law enforcement agencies with enhancing public and officer safety, curbing the sale of illegal drugs and fighting addiction.
At the beginning of his second term, the Governor proposed a $500 increase to the law enforcement annual training stipend, but the General Assembly chose to provide a combined $262 increase over the next two years. The budget signed by the Governor raises the training stipend to an all-time high of $4,562 by fiscal year 2026. Additionally, the Governor is providing part-time law enforcement officers with an annual training stipend for the first time in the history of the commonwealth.
In 2023, Gov. Beshear signed into law House Bill 380, expanding the eligibility of potential peace officers to include individuals who are not yet 21 but will reach this statutory requirement by the time certification is completed to help law enforcement agencies expand their workforce.
Editor’s Note: Assessment results from individual school districts will not be released and are protected under the law. Publication of data identifying an incomplete safety measure could put school staff and students at unnecessary risk while they work toward full compliance with the law. Pursuant to KRS 61.878 (m)(1)(b), certain public records are exempted from inspection except on order of court, to include, public records the disclosure of which would have a reasonable likelihood of threatening the public safety by exposing a vulnerability in preventing, protecting against, mitigating or responding to a terrorist act and includes vulnerability assessments, antiterrorism protective measures and plans, and security and response needs assessments.