Editor,
I’d like to share why I’m voting yes on the Carmel School safety referendum on Nov. 5. Since that devastating day of the shooting at Noblesville West Middle School on May 25, 2018, I’ve spoken to multiple safety experts. My conversations with everyone from police officers to school counselors and psychologists, as well as former Homeland Security staff and FBI, have all led me to the same conclusion: We need highly-trained school resource officers and better mental health services in our schools. This referendum will provide the funds for just that.
The Carmel school safety referendum will provide a school resource officer in every school. Currently, there are seven across 15 schools.
The referendum also will fund raising the salaries of current social workers to be competitive with area districts as well as hiring additional school counselors/social workers. CCS will contract with local providers to have mental health therapists available in every school to eliminate the barriers to mental health services.
The referendum also will provide students, staff and the community with ongoing training to improve safety and reduce violence.
We can no longer live in a “that doesn’t happen here” world. Because it happened 7 miles from here.
This referendum will add the additional layers of security and support that our schools desperately need. Now is the time to support a safety referendum that will help all children, teachers, administrators and staff of Carmel Clay Schools. For the cost of about one to two cups of coffee per month, we can make our students safer each and every day. Please join me in voting yes for the school safety referendum on Nov. 5.
Karla Oselka Walsworth, Carmel
