Tennessee senator will work to improve school safety in upcoming legislative session

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) — A Tennessee state senator is taking action to address teacher assaults, medical emergencies and school shootings.

Sen. Mark Pody is proposing a new bill to give teachers wearable alert systems. This bill was inspired by The Covenant School’s tragic shooting and the increase in teacher assaults.

Pody said the wearable alert system has three buttons for disciplinary situations, medical emergencies and school shootings.

It’s going to help teachers feel safer," said Pody. "It’s going to help with disciplinary actions in school. It’s also going to give critical information to law enforcement."

Depending on which button the teacher presses, school administration, the school resource officer and sometimes law enforcement will be alerted right away.

Pody said the situation will be recorded in real time to help with accountability.

“Not only will the teacher be able to say this is what happened, but that video is going to show this is what happened, and this is what was being said,” said Pody.

Pody said proper disciplinary action will then have to be taken.

Freddy Curtis, former Director of Cannon County Schools, believes this is another great tool for school safety.

There have been many times as an administrator that I would have loved to have had a camera in a classroom when a particular incident had occurred,”said Curtis.

Curtis said the camera itself should deter students.

“That would be a deterrent in saying they, just like a law enforcement officer has a body cam, on them then a teacher could have this on them to record if something did occur in the classroom,” said Curtis.

According to Pody, the first and second readings will take place next week and then it will be heard in committee.