Hundreds of educators and emergency personnel from around the region were schooled by the U.S. Secret Service June 19 on some of the best practices to promote safe schools in their communities, writes Kevin Tustin for the Daily Times.

Neumann University hosted the federal law enforcement agency’s first East Coast presentation of its Safe School Initiative training program. The all-day seminar covered prevention, school climate and cybersecurity.

“Certainly, after the Marjory Stoneman Douglas shooting (from February 2018), we’ve been doubling our efforts in the study of violence in schools,” said Philadelphia Secret Service Special Agent in Charge James Henry.

James said the Columbine High School shooting in 1999 was the catalyst to partner the agency with the U.S. Department of Education to create a study of school treat assessments.

Local school districts have been ramping up their efforts to promote safe environments with trauma-informed care, hiring of school resource officers (armed security) and initiatives to promote better school climates. Delaware County officials installed a silent alarm system called DelPASS (Delaware County Police Alert for School Security) in every county school building in 2013.

More information about the Secret Service’s resources and research can be found at www.secretservice.gov/protection/ntac.

Read more about the presentation here.

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