The Bowling Green Independent School District superintendent is encouraged by a provision in a school safety bill unveiled Wednesday that would prioritize placing more mental health professionals in Kentucky’s schools.

“The mental health aspect is critical,” said Superintendent Gary Fields, adding his district has trained employees to work with traumatic childhood experiences and hired more mental health counselors.

It’s part of the district’s proactive approach to preventing school violence, he said.

“We sometimes think that, you know, that couldn’t happen to our family or that wouldn’t be my kid. Well, it could be any of our students and any of our kids,” Fields said. “So I think it’s really important that we provide all the resources and services we can for kids to work through tough times.”

Senate Bill 1, introduced by Sen. Max Wise, R-Campbellsville, would set a state goal of hiring more school resource officers and mental health professionals to deter school violence, The Associated Press reported.

The bill’s introduction follows a shooting at Marshall County High School in Benton nearly a year ago that killed two students. While the bill has no gun control measures, it calls for hiring a state marshal to oversee local schools’ safety efforts.

The AP said the position would function similarly to the state’s fire marshal and would provide an annual report on findings and recommendations. Schools could potentially be punished for not submitting risk assessments and correcting security gaps, but the bill doesn’t impose mandates on schools that can’t afford them.

Although the bill calls for more school resource officers and mental health professionals, it does not pay for them, according to the AP. That means funding would likely have to wait until next year when lawmakers are considering a new, two-year state budget.

School safety was one of the topics Fields discussed with Bowling Green Rotary Club members during their meeting Wednesday at the Holiday Inn.

As the club’s guest speaker, Fields also gave updates on the school district’s growing diversity, efforts to boost school attendance and renovations at the district’s high school. School safety is an ongoing priority.

“We’ve trained all our teachers and staff in trauma-informed care,” he said, adding that employees need the tools to support children who’ve experienced abuse, poverty or other adverse childhood experiences that can hurt student learning.

“Kids are walking in with issues, we have to be able to identify those issues and be able to address kids where they are,” Fields said.

Additionally, the school district has hired two new family and student counselors this school year. “In essence they’re mental health counselors,” Fields said. “We already have 175 kids on their caseload.”

Fields said the district is trying to create a safe learning environment for students, which is why he told the Daily News he doesn’t support House Bill 30.

That legislation, sponsored by Rep. Robert Goforth, R-East Bernstadt, would end some local restrictions on concealed carry license holders, including those that prohibit guns in schools and college campuses.

Other than trained law enforcement officers, Fields said, “I don’t think anyone else should have a gun in our buildings. …

“I want kids to come to school and be able to learn and be able to be free of some of those outside things that are going on,” he said.

– Follow education reporter Aaron Mudd on Twitter @BGDN_edbeat or visit bgdailynews.com.