Well, school districts need to do a better job of having a plan in place for serious incidents.

That's one of the takeaways from the annual school safety report just released by the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet.

This is the fourth year for the report from the Office of the State School Security Marshal Ben Wilcox.

He laid out ways districts can improve their safety plans after completing a risk assessment for every locally controlled school district.

He recommends teachers and staff have a plan for critical incidents that districts maintain emergency operation plans and for teachers to continue securing school entrances.

In his report, Wilcox says, quote, Unfortunately, swatting incidents are on the rise and plans and procedures must be in place for a measured response.

This can only be done in collaboration with local first responder agencies.

The report also says the number of school resource officers, or Ciro's in Kentucky, is up 28%.

Still, only 68% of Kentucky schools have an assigned SRO.

They've been required in every school since 2022, but districts haven't always been able to attract and pay escrows.

That was one reason behind Senate Bill two, which the Kentucky General Assembly passed this year.

It allows school districts to hire retired law enforcement and military veterans to be armed guards.

Senate Bill two goes into effect next year.