Across the nation, we have witnessed school-targeted violence at a rate unlike any we have ever seen in this country. The grief and heartbreak families have been forced to endure as a result of these attacks is unimaginable and it is abundantly clear action is needed now before another tragedy occurs. It is obvious the safety procedures in place must be evaluated and improved to protect students, teachers, and staff working in New York schools. [The recent] events in Tennessee are yet another horrific reminder of what is at stake.

In order to protect our vulnerable schools, our Assembly Minority Conference toured the state last fall gathering input from stakeholders charged with developing and implementing school-safety plans. Testimony from law-enforcement officials, school administrators, mental-health professionals and parents was gathered ahead of a comprehensive report aimed at identifying ways to bolster school security.

Our proposals are actionable, and they take into account the thoughts and opinions of individuals who know exactly what is needed to protect school children. We listened to them, and I implore my counterparts in the majority legislative conferences, as well as the executive to listen closely to those facing these dangers every day. Among the many topics and recommendations included in the report are:

• Increasing law-enforcement’s presence in schools

• Addressing mental-health concerns in schools

• Opening communication between key stakeholders

• Expanding state support for school safety and security

• Identifying threats and providing support to at-risk students

• Investing in school infrastructure

   Teachers and students are living in fear. Schools are supposed to be safe havens for children to learn and grow, and it is nearly impossible to do that when one goes there each day in fear. Making matters worse, we have also seen a growing number of individuals calling in fake shootings in order to elicit emergency responses for their own amusement. These despicable individuals are fueling already unsustainable levels of fear, and they must be addressed accordingly.

 It is hard to fathom the fear those who were forced into lockdown [by these fake shooting calls] experienced considering the [recent] tragedy. In order to combat this disturbing new practice, Assemblyman Scott Gray (R–Watertown) introduced legislation (A.2977) making such a practice a felony offense under the crime of “falsely reporting an incident in the second degree.”

Overall, we must do everything in our power to ensure school children and those who support them are safe. The stakes could not be higher, and there is absolutely no reason not to implement drastic, immediate improvements to our school-security infrastructure right now. This is an issue that transcends politics and party lines, and we need to work collaboratively. I look now to Gov. Hochul and legislative leadership; do not ignore the needs of New York’s school children.        

William (Will) A. Barclay, 54, Republican, is the New York Assembly minority leader and represents the 120th New York Assembly District, which encompasses all of Oswego County, as well as parts of Jefferson and Cayuga counties.

Early this year, the Gallup organization came out with a survey of Americans on how they view the ethics of various professions. Nurses ranked at the top. Doctors, pharmacists, and high-school teachers did well, too. Real-estate agents and bankers were considered about average. Down at the bottom? Telemarketers. And members of Congress.

Over the course of my career in Congress, I dealt with hundreds of legislators over many decades and found the vast majority to be honest and ethical. Most understood that in Congress and other legislative bodies in this country, trust is the coin of the realm. One of the worst things that can happen to a legislator is to have word get around that he or she is not trustworthy. This is because you’re constantly making deals — hammering out the details of a bill, striving to get funding for a key infrastructure project at home, working with the leadership or other members of your state delegation or even legislators from the other party to craft language that can command a majority on the floor. And as part of that process, you have to make commitments. If you don’t follow through, or you shade your language, or you misrepresent your intentions, word gets around.

 So why do so many people hold the ethics of members of Congress in such low esteem and often tell pollsters that you can’t trust what they say? I think in part it’s because many politicians learn quickly to be careful about how they use language in public — not for nefarious purposes, but because it’s natural to want an audience’s support even though, quite often, the issue in question is far more complicated than it’s possible to convey in a few words. Or, especially these days, a politician may be entirely sincere in expressing a point of view, but it’s based on misinformation or information that comes from what proves to be an untrustworthy source.

At the same time, issues evolve. Policy is a dynamic process and circumstances and legislation change: What you said a year ago might no longer be relevant or even useful today. In fact, as a member of Congress I became cautious in answering when a constituent or lobbyist asked me whether I would support a particular bill, since by the time it reached the floor it might have gone through so many changes that it was unrecognizable. The problem is, as a legislator you don’t get to vote “Maybe.” A vote is a blunt response to a difficult issue; “yes” or “no” rarely reflects a member’s complete thoughts because of the complexities inherent in legislation.

 Intriguingly, it’s that changeability — in how legislation evolves, politics unfolds, and politicians think — that makes trustworthiness so important. If other legislators conclude they can’t take you at your word, then you’re sidelined — as deals get struck and the details change, you have no influence. In the end, you’re just occupying a seat. As New York Congressman George Santos has found, you may have a megaphone in the press, but when it comes to affecting public policy or the course of legislative events, you’re frozen out. And the losers are your constituents.        

Lee Hamilton, 91, is a senior advisor for the Indiana University (IU) Center on Representative Government, distinguished scholar at the IU Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies, and professor of practice at the IU O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs. Hamilton, a Democrat, was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for 34 years (1965-1999), representing a district in south-central Indiana.