Georgia Governor Brian Kemp announced on Monday his proposal to allocate an additional $50 million to public schools for enhanced safety measures. This funding comes in the wake of the tragic shooting incident at Apalachee High School in Winder last September, which left four individuals dead. However, Kemp’s proposal does not meet the heightened demand for additional counseling resources that school officials have been advocating for.
This proposed $50 million would be combined with an ongoing allocation of $109 million already designated for school safety, which began in the state’s budget as of July 1. This marks a significant development in Georgia’s approach to funding schools, as it transitions from relying solely on occasional safety grants to implementing consistent financial backing for safety initiatives. “These investments were made to enhance the safety of our schools,” said Kemp, who believes that the previous funding measures played a crucial role in preventing an even greater tragedy at Apalachee High School.
Under Kemp’s plan, each of Georgia’s over 2,000 public schools would receive an additional allocation of $21,635 specifically for safety measures, supplementing the already provided amount of $47,125. Additionally, the governor proposed an increase of $872,000 in funding for school psychologists, which would result in approximately 16 more psychologists being available statewide—equating to roughly one psychologist for every 2,420 students enrolled.
Despite the pressing concerns regarding gun access for children, Kemp and other Republican leaders have been reluctant to pursue regulations on this issue. However, Democratic state representative Michelle Au has introduced a bill aiming to make it illegal not to secure firearms around children. Meanwhile, state school superintendent Richard Woods and various educational advocates are calling for increased investments in counselors and mental health professionals to effectively address students’ needs before they escalate into threats.
Woods’ vision includes enhanced funding for the Apex mental health program, which currently serves only about a third of Georgia schools and relies on voluntary participation. He also advocates for the establishment of crisis alert systems and dedicated police officers in each institution. Last year, when the $109 million was allocated for school safety, lawmakers intended for it to ensure at least one security officer was present in every school; however, local superintendents have remarked that the actual cost of a resource officer is considerably more than the allocated budget.
Leading educational associations have voiced their support for increased funding for counselors and social workers, as well as psychologists. The American School Counselor Association recommends a ratio of one counselor for every 250 students, while current Georgia state funding only supports one for every 450 students. These groups are pushing for funding that would allow for one counselor per every 400 students, which would require an estimated increase of $26 million annually. They also estimate that ensuring adequate funding for social workers in each district would cost about $1.7 million.
In light of limited available funds, Kemp acknowledged the challenge of finding licensed professionals, stating, “I’m open to all of the above,” regarding potential funding avenues. However, if he does not include certain funding proposals in his budget, lawmakers may need to reallocate existing resources, given that the governor sets the spending limits.
Woods remained determined, declaring, “The process has just started, and we’ll continue to engage about needed changes.” He expressed appreciation for any additional funding, highlighting its importance as a step forward.
Furthermore, Governor Kemp expressed his intention to fund crisis counseling training conducted by the Southern Regional Education Board for twenty counselors from both public schools and colleges. Support for Kemp’s safety initiatives has also come from Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones and House Speaker Jon Burns, with Burns stating, “These grants will provide the flexibility and discretion needed to fit the unique needs of every school in every corner of our state.”
In closing, Jones reiterated his calls for legislation that would require the use of wearable panic buttons for teachers. Burns also emphasized the need for information-sharing mechanisms across educational, child welfare, and juvenile court systems to improve threat assessment protocols, along with the suggestion to allocate fines from automated school zone speeding cameras specifically for school safety enhancements.
