Klarides-Ditria supports bill to enhance school safety

HARTFORD - State Rep. Nicole Klarides-Ditria, R-Seymour, submitted testimony last week in support of legislation that seeks to enhance classroom safety and school climate.

Klarides-Ditria

Under the bill, H.B. 7110, boards of education would be required to revise their safe school climate plans to include provisions relating to disruptive or injurious incidents that occur in classrooms, to develop and implement a state-wide school climate survey, and to require the Department of Education to provide assistance to school districts relating to school climate.

Klarides-Ditria said, “It is crucial that we highly prioritize the safety of students and teachers. Giving teachers the ability to remove dangerous students for a short time with the requirement that they follow designated protocols will protect the rights and safety of the child in question, the teacher, and fellow students."

A similar bill was passed by the House and Senate last session but was vetoed by Gov. Dan Malloy. 

For more information about the people or to track legislation visit, cga.ct.gov.

This is a press release from Klarides-Ditria's press secretary Spencer Rubin. 

Klarides, Klarides-Ditria attend meeting, learn about issues facing educators

Connecticut Association of Boards of Education hosts event

State Rep. Themis Klarides, R-Derby

DERBY - State Representatives Themis Klarides and Nicole Klarides-Ditria met with local Board of Education members, Superintendents, Principals, teachers in Derby Wednesday to hear the top issues impacting schools K-12. 

An annual legislative breakfast is hosted by the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education.

In attendance were superintendents, principals, teachers, and BOE Members from Ansonia, Derby, Orange, Milford, Seymour, Woodbridge, and West Haven. 

State Rep. Nicole Klarides-Ditria, R-Seymour

Many expressed their concerns about school safety for both teachers and students. 
In addition, funding teachers' pensions, providing more opportunities for advanced manufacturing training, and ECS funding were discussed.

Klarides said, "Today's classrooms are much different than they were 10 years or even five years ago. I give teachers a lot of respect for the work they do day in and day out to teach our children.  It's important that we work this session to protect ECS funding for our communities and continue to prevent teachers' pensions from being placed on the backs of our towns and cities."

Klarides-Ditria said, "Teachers or students not feeling safe in a classroom is something that we need to fix. Having a safe classroom for all makes the learning experience more productive, which will lead to better performance by students. I will be talking to my colleagues this session to see if we can repass legislation to address school safety."

Last year, Gov. Dan Malloy vetoed S.B.453, a school safety bill that made several changes to school safety laws - the bill was co-sponsored by both Klarides and Klarides-Ditria. 

Malloy also vetoed a bill that would have prevented future governors from being able to cut ECS funding midyear.

This is a press release from Spencer Rubin, press secretary.