The Washington County Board of Education voted to adopt a resolution asking the governor and the Tennessee General Assembly to provide dedicated state funding for wearable panic alarms for school employees.

Board member Huddlestone, who introduced the resolution, framed it as a response to recent school shootings and existing state action, saying: "These devices allow employees to summon help to their location, whether for a medical emergency, a fight, or in the worst case scenario, an active assailant." He urged lawmakers to allocate money so every district could implement the devices rather than rely on local funds.

The resolution notes that a version of what is known as "Alyssa's Law" has passed in several states and that Tennessee's legislature in February 2023 asked school boards to "consider the use of panic alarm systems." Huddlestone told the board the 2023 legislative package included a $48,000 safety-alert grant pilot but said that amount is not sufficient to equip districts statewide. He asked that districts that already bought devices receive reimbursement.

Several board members voiced support for state-level funding. Chairman Buchanan put the item to a vote after discussion; voting members recorded their approval and the chair announced the motion passed.

The board directed staff to forward the approved resolution to the governor and to state legislators including the county's senator and representatives and to share copies with the nonprofit Make Our Schools Safe Tennessee, which Huddlestone mentioned during his remarks. The board also noted that the HUW (likely a committee referenced during the meeting) had forwarded a related funding request to the budget committee for further consideration.

No county-level appropriation was adopted at the meeting: the board's action was to pass and transmit the resolution requesting state funding and, where applicable, reimbursement for districts that already purchased alarm systems.

Votes at the meeting recorded audible affirmative votes and the chair declared the resolution approved.

The board's request now awaits action by the governor and the Tennessee legislature; the resolution itself does not create a local funding allocation or a procurement plan.