Raleigh — Following President Bush’s announcement that he will convene a national school security summit in the wake of the recent school shootings, U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge (D-Lillington) invited the President to hold the summit in North Carolina’s Second Congressional District.
“North Carolina is rich in the expertise and resources that could help the federal government inform its support of school security issues,” said Etheridge. “Because of our historic commitment to school security, I would like to invite President Bush to hold the planned school violence summit in North Carolina to discuss our nation’s response to the recent attacks and determine how our government can better protect our children.”
Etheridge is the former N.C. Superintendent of Public Instruction and the only N.C. member of the House Homeland Security Committee. During Etheridge’s tenure as State Superintendent, North Carolina established the Center for the Prevention of School Violence, one of the first organizations in the country devoted to school security issues. Etheridge is the only former state schools chief serving in Congress.
Etheridge has also been working on the Homeland Security Committee to increase the federal government’s role in school security. Etheridge is also supporting legislation in Congress that would make schools eligible for Department of Homeland Security grants to prepare for, prevent and respond to terrorist attacks and other emergencies.
Etheridge released a survey of schools in the Second Congressional District earlier this year that clearly demonstrates that local school officials are unfamiliar with existing federal resources and do not believe the federal government is of use in securing their schools. Because of the troubling survey results, Etheridge requested the Government Accountability Office conduct a nationwide investigation of school security preparedness.