School safety is on the minds of every school community member – from educators to students, parents to bus drivers. It impacts everyone in the school community.
AASA, the national superintendents association, focused on the subject in the March issue of its magazine, School Administrator. The issue included articles on rethinking school safety, behavioral threat assessment and intervention in schools, and the continuum of school security.
“Two good reasons exist to do something: It makes us safer, and it makes us feel safer. We know children can only learn and thrive when they feel safe. Only about half of students say they generally feel safe at school, according to the nonprofit survey group YouthTruth, and the number of parents who fear for their child’s safety at school has grown significantly in recent years — from roughly 24 percent in 2017 to 44 percent in 2022.” – The Continuum of School Security.
These articles echoed the same message we are hearing/sharing at a state level – the need for a comprehensive approach to school safety that focuses on prevention rather than reaction, the importance of providing mental health resources for students and staff, and how to utilize school security tools and school resource officers.
MASA will focus on all of these topics and more at the 2023 School Safety Summit on May 2 in Lansing. Back by popular demand, this one-day event will feature keynote speakers who will provide insights into the most pressing issues facing schools today, including school shootings, bullying, and mental health. Attendees will also have the opportunity to participate in breakout sessions focused on specific areas of school safety, such as threat assessment and intervention, emergency planning, and crisis communication.
This event is open to central office leaders, school resource officers, school board members, principals, community liaisons, and other members of your school safety team.
Interested in speaking or know someone who is? We are now accepting RFPs for this event!