AG Kaul, advocates seek funding for DOJ's Office of School Safety

 

MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Attorney General Josh Kaul and advocates are calling on lawmakers to fund the Wisconsin Department of Justice Office of School Safety in the upcoming state budget.

The office, which was created in wake of the 2018 Parkland Florida school shooting, is at risk of closing without additional funding from the state, Kaul said.

Federal funding has largely helped keep the office operating, but Kaul said that money is anticipated to run out by the end of the year.

He's asking members of the Joint Finance Committee to approve his request of $2.2 million for the Office of School Safety as lawmakers work to craft the next budget over the next few months. Gov. Tony Evers proposed less than half of what Kaul asked for in his budget proposal, which is $988,800 over the biennium.

Kaul said he's committed to fully funding the office even if the lawmakers don't approve his request.

"I think the most straightforward way is doing [funding] it in the budget, but certainly if the budget ends up leaving a shortfall with the resources, we need to continue operations, we would consider all different options."

On Monday, Kaul held a press conference with Max Schachter, an advocate and parent of a student who was killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

Schachter and Kaul said they plan to meet with Republican and Democratic members on JFC Tuesday to make their pitch to fund the Office of School Safety.

"I can't stand to have any more families go through the pain of sending their child to school and then never coming home again," Schacter said." We shouldn't have to wait for a tragedy to happen in Wisconsin for people to invest in the Office of School Safety and prioritize safety and security of schools above all else."

Since its creation, the DOJ's Office of School Safety has distributed $100 million in federal grants for safety enhancements at schools. They also offer de-escalation training for teachers and have established a 24-hour tip line for students and faculty members.