Guest article by Bobby Kipper of The Kipper Group

As we continue to witness the growth of proposed national school safety standards for campuses across the United States, we need to examine the cause and impact on local school divisions.

While the intentions of all involved are clearly in what is believed to be in the best interest of schools nationwide, one issue stands out: Local school divisions are run and operated at the local level. While national proposed standards have valuable information and suggestions, they do not have the automatic approval of local leaders.

I have spent a great deal of time at the local and state level of school operations to include four years at the Virginia Department of Education as a School Safety Specialist. What I have learned is that local governments including school boards are not fans of requirements at the national or state level. The key here is the clear distinction between national models based on a history of success and the requirements of standards delivered without the funding to support them.

While school divisions are eligible for state and federal funding, they tend to cringe at the thought that the money carries with it a set of requirements. While the fact that there would be proposed national school safety standards is all with good intent, there is and always will be a clear separation of national and state requirements, and their impact on local community-based schools.

When it comes to school safety, “One size will never fit all.”

Bobby Kipper is an international speaker and best-selling author. Bobby has had a 30 year distinguished career as a Police Officer for Newport News Police Department, Virginia, where he coordinated the school/police partnership. Bobby worked for the Virginia Department of Education as a School Safety Specialist, and for the Virginia Office of Attorney General as the director of the Gang Reduction program. 

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