Governor Sandoval Announces School Safety Task Force

CARSON CITY, NV - On March 19, Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval signed an Executive Order establishing a statewide school safety task force. Today, he announced the members of that task force.

The task force will be chaired by Dale Erquiaga, CEO and National President of Communities In Schools. The co-chairs will be Margarita Gamboa, Principoal of Sunrise Acres Elementary School and Jill Tolles, Nevada State Assemblywoman representing Assembly District 25.

In the March 19 Executive Order, Sandoval stated the purpose of the task force is to "identify and recommend those school safety practices best suited for implementation in some or all of Nevada's schools, recognizing that not all schools are similarly situated," in the wake of the Feb. 14 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL that killed 17 people.

Sandoval's Executive Order calls for the task force to meet for the first time on May 3, deliver an initial report on or before August 1, and deliver a final report on or before Nov. 30.

“School safety is one of the highest priorities for my administration,” Sandoval said. “I am very pleased by the caliber of individuals who have agreed to serve our state on this Task Force. Additionally, I am honored that Dale Erquiaga, National President and CEO of Communities In Schools has accepted our invitation to bring his national level perspective to our statewide discussion."

The final report will include 10 long-term recommendations to improve safety in schools, as well as a guideline on how to implement those practices; a proposal of any necessary legislation; a proposal of any necessary budget; a draft of an Executive Order, if necessary, to implement the recommendations; a proposal for a a model policy for adoption by individual school districts; and any other information pertinent to the implementation of the recommendations.

The school safety task force is made up of school district superintendents, principals, teachers, students, school district police department chiefs, state health officials, a district court judge, and "anyone else deemed necessary by the governor." The members announced on Thursday are are:

• Steve Canavero, State Superintendent of Public Instruction
• Yvanna Cancela, State Senator, Senate District 10
• Mike Barton, Clark County School District Chief Academic Officer
• The Clark County School District Superintendent
• Traci Davis, Washoe County School District Superintendent
• Dave Jensen, Humboldt County School District Representative
• Brianne Thoreson, Bishop Manogue Catholic High School Principal
• Dr. Zachary Robbins, Cheyenne High School Principal
• Pat Hickey, Executive Director of Charter School Association of Nevada
• Bridget Peterson, President, Lyon County School District Board of Trustees
• Pilar Biller, Damonte Ranch High School Art Teacher
• Derek Krallman, Jerome D. Mack Middle School Teacher
• Katherine Loudon, Washoe County School District Counseling Coordinator
• Katie Dockweiler, Clark County School District Nationally Certified School Psychologist
• Leon Ravin, Statewide Psychiatric Medical Director
• James Ketsaa, Clark County School District Police Department Chief
• Jason Trevino, Washoe County School District Police Department Chief
• Laura Hernandez, Clark County Parent
• Caryn Swobe, Washoe County Parent
• William Voy, Eighth Judicial District Court Judge
• Ashley Macias, Mojave High School Student
• Della Frank, Clark County School District Indian Education Opportunities Program Project Facilitator
• Jimmy Tarelo, Western High School JAG Student

Anthony Petrosino, Director of the WestEd Justice & Prevention Research Center, and Associate Director of WestEd's Health & Justice Program will serve as a non-voting, national expert.

Image: A Spring Valley High School student participates in National School Walkout Day on March 14 in Las Vegas. (Lucas Thomas/Las Vegas Patch)