Schools should be safe places

Updated: March 27

"These shootings must stop, and we must do more than throw up our hands in frustration. I am encouraging all WEA members to join with their local associations in the "March for our Lives" this weekend to demand reasonable and sensible actions to reduce gun violence and school shootings. 

"There are marches all over our state, in communities large and small. Visit the March for our Lives website to find out where there is a march close to you." 
 
Kim Mead, WEA president, in response to the March 20 shooting at Great Mills High School in Southern Maryland 

Use these resources for talking with students about school safety.  

"Schools are supposed to be safe places for all children to learn. WEA has never wavered from that position and never will. We know that the people who choose to work in schools are there because they are committed to their students. WEA believes that educators should not be armed and that guns and other weapons should not be allowed in schools. Further, Washington state law prohibits guns and weapons on school campuses."

Kim Mead - WEA president

Governor Inslee

And speaking in front of the nation's governors, and the president, Governor Jay Inslee emphasized that Washington educators oppose proposals to arm school employees, and he encoraged the president to listen to educators' concerns.

Watch here.

Local Associations support school safety

Many local associations and schools are taking action to support safe schools in the weeks and months ahead. We'll add information as we get it -- send us an email with information.

In addition to joining in on the March 24 March for Our Lives rally in Seattle, Bellevue Education Association passed this resolution.

Evergreen Education Association resolution on gun violence and school safety. (file will download).

Federal Way Education Association - hosted a school safety fourm for FWEA members, school administrators and parents. It was a starting point for how to prioritize actions to improve school safety.

Spokane Education Association resolution in support of student actions demanding action to reduce gun violence.

Watch Spokane educators discuss school safety on a recent KHQ broadcast.

Lake Washington Education Association has partnered with district administration, principals, and parents to develop school-sponsored civic activities in each building on March 14 in response to the Parkland shooting.

Mariner High School -- Mukilteo Education Association -- proclamation.

The Olympia Education Association passed a motion to endorse the March for our Lives Olympia march which is a sister march to the event taking place in Washington DC on March 24. 

Justin Fox-Bailey, Snohomish Education Association president was featured in this NBC News story.

March 14 student walk-out, March 24 March for our Lives, April 20 School walk-out

Many students, local education associations and communities are participating in events to force action to improve school safety. 

Here are local associations supporting the events student walk-outs. If your local isn't listed here, send us an email with School Safety in the subject line.

• Evergreen Education Association
• Federal Way Education Association
• Seattle Education Association
• Snohomish Education Association
• Spokane Education Association
• Lake Washington Education Association
• Franklin Pierce Education Association
• Wenatchee Education Association