The safety of our schoolchildren is of paramount importance to all people in the education community. The tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut, has prompted school districts to reassess security measures in place in their facilities. The New Jersey School Boards Association has created the School Security Resources web page with the goal of assisting school officials in the process.

SAFE AND SECURE SCHOOLS

On Jan. 18, 2013, NJSBA sponsored “Safe and Secure Schools: Perspectives after Newtown” at The College of New Jersey. Here are resources from the program:

View Keynote Video

Keynote address: Dr. Maurice J. Elias, “The Essential Connection between a Safe and Secure School Climate and Students’ Educational and Life Success.” Dr. Elias serves as director of clinical training in Rutgers University’s Department of Psychology; director of the Rutgers Social and Emotional Learning Laboratory; and director of the Collaborative, Rutgers’ Center for Community-Based Research, Service, and Public Scholarship; and former director of New Jersey’s Developing Safe and Civil Schools Initiative. View the PowerPoint presentation.

View Panel I Video

Panel Discussion I: “Looking Forward: State School Security Procedures and Requirements”

• Ronald Susswein, Esq., Assistant Attorney General, State of New Jersey
• Anthony Bland, State Coordinator, Office of School Preparedness and Emergency Planning, New Jersey Department of Education
• Raymond J. Hayducka, President, New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police; Chief of Police, South Brunswick Township

View Panel II Video

Panel Discussion II: “Looking Forward: Safety and Security at the School Building Level”

• Dr. Christopher Manno, Chief Education Officer, Burlington Township Public Schools
• Christopher Brown, Director of Security, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick
• Dr. Michael Wanko, Principal, Piscataway High School; author of ‘Safe Schools: Crisis Prevention and Response;’ Past President of the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association
  • Resources: Crisis preparedness checklist, Physical risk reduction checklist
• Marty Kalbach, Director, New Jersey School Boards Association Insurance Group

Program guide – “Safe and Secure Schools: Perspectives after Newtown”

News:

• NJSBA Testifies for School Security Legislation (2/13)
• NorthJersey.com video coverage
• NJTV video coverage
• Hundreds pack conference on New Jersey school security, NorthJersey.com
• Armed guards may not be right for every school, school security experts tell educators, Star-Ledger
• Surprise drills, reviews of N.J. school safety procedures are prudent steps, Trenton Times editorial
• South Brunswick police chief: Armed guards in school will cause more harm than good, Star-Ledger
• Surprise security drills coming to N.J. schools, Star-Ledger pre-conference coverage
• Rutgers psychologist speaks at N.J. forum on school safety, Philadelphia Inquirer
• School officials discuss issue of school safety, Trentonian