Landes: School safety committee making progress

Del. Steve Landes (R-Va. 25th) said a select committee designed to make schools safer is making progress toward creating recommendations for institutions statewide.

The committee, formed by House Speaker Kirk Cox, was formed after the shooting massacre in Parkland, Florida, where 17 people were killed.

Landes said a recent meeting focused on student behavior and intervention.

"Whether it's bullying or trying to identify through threat assessments, young people who are in crisis and get to them as quickly as possible," Landes said during a visit to Bridgewater Volunteer Fire Company on Wednesday.

Landes toured schools in Augusta and Rockingham counties in May to learn more about what was being done to keep students safe.

He said the recommendations may include more training for teachers.

"A lot of times, there isn't any real understanding of what threat assessments are and how that operates," Landes said.

Members of the committee will meet at Blue Ridge Community College on Aug. 28 to hear input from students on security.