CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia Superintendent of Schools Steve Paine spoke at last Thursday’s state Board of Education about the creation of a statewide student organization aimed at discussing student safety.
Seventeen students participated in the first meeting of the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council on May 3, in which the individuals spoke about ways to improve safety and education facilities.
Paine recommended the meeting at a March meeting in light of the school shooting in Parkland, Florida.
He said last week they discussed the issues of “social and emotional learning,” allowing him the opportunity to understand what ideas students had to improve safety.
“I’ll tell you one thing that came out from several of the students was that, in their words and I’ll try to paraphrase, when students are actively engaged in something at school, that seems to be the real secret,” Paine said.
The group discussed fostering relationships with their peers through student organizations, building relationships with local communities, providing students with adequate resources regarding emotional needs and making sure students are not demonized for reporting concerns.
“We have great ideas,” Paine said. “It’s a basis and a foundation for additional work to follow.”
Paine said he met with West Virginia State Police Superintendent Jan Cahill, adding there is interest among others about regarding future actions on school safety.