9.1-184 - Virginia Center for School Safety created; duties.
§ 9.1-184. Virginia Center for School Safety created; duties.
A. From such funds as may be appropriated, the Virginia Center for SchoolSafety (the "Center") is hereby established within the Department. TheCenter shall:
1. Provide training for Virginia public school personnel in school safety andthe effective identification of students who may be at risk for violentbehavior and in need of special services or assistance;
2. Serve as a resource and referral center for Virginia school divisions byconducting research, sponsoring workshops, and providing informationregarding current school safety concerns, such as conflict management andpeer mediation, school facility design and technology, current state andfederal statutory and regulatory school safety requirements, and legal andconstitutional issues regarding school safety and individual rights;
3. Maintain and disseminate information to local school divisions oneffective school safety initiatives in Virginia and across the nation;
4. Collect, analyze, and disseminate various Virginia school safety data,including school safety audit information submitted to it pursuant to §22.1-279.8, collected by the Department;
5. Encourage the development of partnerships between the public and privatesectors to promote school safety in Virginia;
6. Provide technical assistance to Virginia school divisions in thedevelopment and implementation of initiatives promoting school safety;
7. Develop a memorandum of understanding between the Commissioner of theDepartment of Criminal Justice Services and the Superintendent of PublicInstruction to ensure collaboration and coordination of roles andresponsibilities in areas of mutual concern, such as school safety audits andcrime prevention; and
8. Provide training for and certification of school security officers, asdefined in § 9.1-101 and consistent with § 9.1-110.
B. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall cooperate with the Center and, uponrequest, assist the Center in the performance of its duties andresponsibilities.
(2000, c. 519, § 9-173.21; 2001, cc. 436, 440, 844; 2002, cc. 836, 868.)