The Virginia governor has appointed Loudoun County sheriff Mike Chapman to a task force designed to improve safety at schools and college campuses in the state.
Chapman, who was elected sheriff in November 2011 after a 23-year career in the Drug Enforcement Administration, will join more than 40 lawmakers, state officials, educators, students, and others also named to the task force. The group will study existing school safety procedures, identify weaknesses, and recommend improvements.
Governor Bob McDonnell issued an executive order establishing the task force on December 20, less than a week after a gunman shot and killed 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. In 2007, a Virginia Tech student shot and killed 32 students and faculty at the university’s campus in Blacksburg, Virginia.
“After the tragic shootings in Connecticut, our command staff met with command staffs from state and local police as well as with Loudoun County Public School officials to review our security procedures,” Chapman said in a statement announcing his appointment. “We will be able to bring ideas shared during these meetings to the governor’s task force. We want to make certain, together, that we continue to do everything possible to ensure your child’s safety, and the safety of the entire school staff.”
The task force will meet for the first time in Richmond on January 14. Its final recommendations are due on June 30, and are intended to be implemented before the start of the new school year.
Governor’s Task Force on School and Campus Safety
Co-Chairs
The Honorable Marla Decker, Secretary of Public Safety
The Honorable Laura Fornash, Secretary of Education
The Honorable Bill Hazel, MD, Secretary of Health and Human Resources
Members
The Honorable Ken Cuccinelli, Attorney General of Virginia
The Honorable Joseph Yost, Virginia House of Delegates
The Honorable Margaret B. Ransone, Virginia House of Delegates
The Honorable Patrick Hope, Virginia House of Delegates
The Honorable Tom Garrett, Senate of Virginia
The Honorable Richard Stuart, Senate of Virginia
The Honorable George Barker, Senate of Virginia
Patricia Wright, EdD, Superintendent of Public Instruction
Donna Michaelis, Director of the Virginia Center for School Safety
Colonel W. Steven Flaherty, Superintendent of the Virginia Department of State Police
Garth Wheeler, Director of the Department of Criminal Justice Services
Mark Gooch, Director of the Department of Juvenile Justice
Michael Cline, State Coordinator of the Department of Emergency Management
James W. Stewart, III, The Commissioner of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services
Maureen Dempsey, MD, FAAP, Acting State Health Commissioner
Peter Blake, Director of the State Council on Higher Education
Sarah Gross, PTA Legislative Liaison
Michelle Wescott, Nurse, Rena B. Wright Primary School; PTA Health and Safety Chair
Vincent Darby, Principal, G. H. Reid Elementary School, Richmond
Keith Perrigan, Principal, Patrick Henry High School, Washington; President, Virginia Association of Secondary School Principals
Dr. Deborah Pettit, Superintendent, Louisa County Schools
Dianne Smith, Member of Chesterfield School Board; Retired Principal
Leonard Steward, Lexington City School Board
Regina Blackwell Brown, Educational Specialist for School Counseling, Henrico County Public Schools
Meg Gruber, Teacher, Forest Park High School, Prince William; VEA President
Judi M. Lynch, PhD, Principal, Saint Gertrude High School
Dr. Sandy Ward, Director of the School Psychology program, College of William & Mary
Dewey Cornell, Professor of Education, Curry School of Education, University of Virginia;
Director, Virginia Youth Violence Project
Charles J Klink, Assistant Vice Provost and Vice President for Student Affairs, Virginia Commonwealth University
Sheriff Brian Hieatt, Tazewell County
Sheriff Mike Chapman, Loudoun County
Chief Jim Williams, Chief of Police, City of Staunton
Chief Don Challis, Chief of Police, College of William and Mary
Joel Branscom, Commonwealth’s Attorney, Botetourt County
Chief Steve Cover, Fire Chief, City of Virginia Beach
Edward “Bubby” Bish, Virginia Association of Volunteer Rescue Squads
Captain Steve Carey, Stafford County Sheriff’s Department (former School Resource Officer)
Gene Deisinger, Deputy Chief and Director of Threat Management, Virginia Tech
Charles Werner, Charlottesville Fire Chief (Member of Secure Commonwealth Panel)
Allen Hill, Father of Rachel Hill, Victim of Virginia Tech Shooting
Alexa Rennie, Student, James River High School
Jillian McGarrity, Student, Lynchburg College
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