An Ohio Senate committee plans to hold hearings on school safety matters beginning next week with a meeting focused on incident prevention and mental health.
The panel was created this year to address school security and prevention of violent acts in public spaces. It comes after last year's deadly shootings at a Chardon high school and elementary school in Newtown, Conn. The first hearing is scheduled for Tuesday. Other hearings focusing on security, school infrastructure and law enforcement response are scheduled for March. The Ohio House has indicated it's making school safety a priority. The topic is the subject of one of the first bills introduced in the chamber. The legislation is expected to be written based on public input and suggestions.