RALEIGH — A panel asked by Gov. Pat McCrory to recommend ways to make North Carolina public schools safer is holding its first meeting.

The Governor’s Task Force on Safer Schools plans to spend Wednesday’s gathering in Raleigh hearing about some new initiatives approved by the General Assembly and organizing subcommittees on certain topics.

The 20-member panel was created following a school safety report McCrory’s administration released in September. The legislature this year set aside $9 million in matching funds for school districts to hire additional resource officers and install and maintain classroom panic alarms.

Panel members include educators, law enforcement officers and health and social service workers. The chairman is Chip Hughes, a former Highway Patrol sergeant and Governor’s Crime Commission member planning to run for Craven County sheriff next year.