Lawmaker pushing for classroom panic buttons

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – School districts could receive grants of up to $200,000 to install classroom panic buttons under legislation introduced by Congresswoman Gwen Graham.

The one-term representative said there is still time for congress to act on her Securing our Schools legislation before the school year starts and says if the buttons are good enough for Congress, they ought to also be in schools.

“I thought if members of Congress can have a security button under their desks, it would be something that would be beneficial to our teachers and students and everyone at our schools across the country to have a similar button,” said Graham, D-Tallahassee.

Graham said how the systems would work would be up to individual districts without creating a one- size-fits-all program. The grants would come from the Department of Justice.