School safety tip line gets much needed boost

Wisconsin’s Governor and Legislature rarely agree on much. So it is good to see they were able to come together to help keep Wisconsin schools safe. Governor Evers has now signed legislation to keep the Office of School Safety going into next year. One key component of this office, housed in the Department of Justice, is a tip line that allows students to anonymously report concerns at their school. That could include instances of bullying, threats of physical harm or suicide, and threats to the school. The agency also trains local school districts on the best way to respond to threats. But funding for this state program was running out. Now democrats and republicans in Madison have agreed to fund the school safety office for another year using stopgap funding. That is a good example of our lawmakers working together to address common concerns. School  safety is not a Republican or Democrat issue. It affects everyone, regardless of political affiliation. This program is valuable and the need for it continues to grow based on the number of calls the office is receiving. It is good that our lawmakers put their political differences aside and found a way to work together, for the common good.