FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2006
CONTACT: SEAN SPENCE
614-208-2608, seanspence@earthlink.net

MONTEE UNVEILS “SAFE SCHOOLYARDS INITIATIVE”

In the wake of recent schoolroom violence in Missouri and across the country, State Auditor candidate Susan Montee today unveiled her plan for auditing implementation of the 10-year-old “Missouri Safe Schools Act” and other school safety programs. Montee’s plan reflects her commitment to focusing government on educating and protecting children.

“From the beginning, my campaign has emphasized the Auditor’s role in educating and protecting Missouri children,” Montee said. “From the first day, we have talked about ensuring that education funds generated by the lottery go to classrooms and preventing sexual predators from living near where our children congregate.”

“Following the tragedies in Pennsylvania and Colorado, I began formulating a plan to address the safety needs of Missouri school children,” Montee continued. “With yesterday’s events in Joplin, it is apparent that the public discussion cannot wait another minute.”

“If elected, I pledge to implement a ‘Safe Schoolyards Initiative.’ As part of the program, we will audit the ‘Missouri Safe Schools Act’ and other programs designed to protect Missouri school children.”

“The ‘Missouri Safe Schools Act,’ a bi-partisan effort, was written with the flexibility to fit the unique needs of individual school districts,” Montee said.

Montee cited three areas of the “Missouri Safe Schools Act” that would be of particular concern to the office under her leadership:

1. the requirement for a clear, written policy on discipline;
2. reporting requirements for potentially harmful acts on school grounds; and
3. removal of threatening students.

In addition to auditing the performance of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Department of Public Safety as they relate to the “Missouri Safe Schools Act,” Montee said she would evaluate local, state and federal requirements regarding school safety and security planning, and funding for such activities. Specifically, Montee said she would audit the Safe Schools Grant program administered by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Montee would also audit the safety measures taken by individual school districts when answering citizen petitions.

“As Missouri’s Auditor, I will make sure that we are protecting our children to the best of our ability while leaving the power to make and implement decisions to local school boards.”