Warsaw, IN- During the Warsaw School Board meeting on April 24, school safety was a topic of discussion. Tracy Horrell, assistant superintendent of secondary education, highlighted some of the work Warsaw Community Schools (WCS) has accomplished in regards to school safety.
While the state of Indiana only requires one certified school safety specialist per school, WCS has gone above and beyond by having 17 safety specialists throughout the district. This is because WCS understands that education and training are key factors to protecting against and responding to threats on school grounds.
To be certified as a safety specialist, ongoing training is required. Basic training is the initial training required, then administrators have to attend advanced safety training each year to maintain their status. Training opportunities are offered in the fall and spring. This spring, on May 15th and 16th, nine WCS administrators are completing or renewing advanced training certifications.
During this professional development, administrators are trained in building safety, emergency response, mental health, school climate, and school building design for improved safety. They also discuss the importance of administrators, educators, and students being aware of their surroundings, exits, procedures, and safeguards in place to protect them.
WCS Superintendent Dr. David Hoffert stated, “Safety and security of our students and staff is our continual top priority. We are thankful to our School Resource Officers, local law enforcement, administration and employees for their dedication to this mission. Their continual training and collaboration is a strong reflection of the prioritization in creating safe and secure learning environments.”
WCS is also collaborating with other districts to learn and become more equipped in the case of any emergency. In March, WCS sent two district administrators to a crisis and reunification drill in Mooresville. This is Mooresville School’s 15th year of running similar full-scale drills in collaboration with local authorities, and WCS attended as observers in order to look for ways to improve current drills. These crisis drills allow WCS to train and prepare for various types of events that they hope never occur in their schools.
The safety of students, faculty, and staff is a top priority for WCS. By going above and beyond state requirements and collaborating with other districts, WCS is ensuring that their schools are as safe as possible.
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Photo Provided: Officer Lewis Fuller with Makenna Moore, 7th grader at Lakeview
Photo Provided: Officer Brandon Zartman with Jael Namfukwe, 11th grader at WCHS