Tennessee Governor Increases School Security Budget After Nashville Shooting

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee is increasing his state’s school security budget in response to the recent shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville.

Lee has proposed a budget of $30 million to provide at least one Homeland Security agent in each county for public and private schools while also enhancing requirements and accountability measures for physical security in all schools. President of the Tennessee Education Association Tanya Coats praised Lee’s proposal to increase funding on the TEA Facebook page.

The amended request, comprising HB322 and SB274, includes three components. The first entreats $140 million for the enlistment of an armed School Resource Officer (SRO) in all public schools who have undergone active shooter training. Lee said this is the most essential and urgent step to take.

The second is a $27 million grant fund to improve physical security in all schools. The grant fund will be divided into $20 million for public schools and $7 million for private schools. The third proposal requires $8 million to institute more school-based mental health services.