Great news!  MSBA’s Center for Education Safety (CES) has been awarded state funding to support school district needs for emergency operations planning and development.  This funding will allow schools to access a web-based EOP development tool for ease of collaborating, developing, and storing emergency operations plans, maps, drills and exercises, resources and more at no cost to the district for two years!

In addition to access to the tool, districts can receive phone, virtual or in-person technical assistance and training.  Training can be tailored to the needs of the district as they determine opportunities for improvement in keeping their campus’ safe. 

Districts must be signed up before June 1, 2023, to receive no cost access to the tool and training. So hurry now and get started on developing or updating your plans! 

Contact CES for subscription information or questions by emailing our staff at ces@mosba.org.

Learn More

About MSBA’s Center for Education Safety

Ensuring our public schools remain among the safest places for our students, faculty, staff, and visitors is a top priority for every school district. A safe and secure learning environment is essential for student success. However, our schools continue to face numerous safety and security issues for which they must be prepared so effective teaching and learning can take place.

The Missouri School Boards’ Association’s Center for Education Safety (CES) is the only statewide school safety organization in Missouri and is supported and operated solely by MSBA. The CES is dedicated to enhancing various aspects of emergency planning, preparedness, and safety and security in schools throughout Missouri. CES not only provides professional expertise through its staff on specific topics, it also serves as a clearinghouse for reliable school safety information and resources.

The CES is guided by the following core principles:

  • Teaching and learning do not occur without a safe and secure environment for learners and those who instruct and support them. Indeed, high performance public schools are dependent upon a safe and secure environment.
  • Safety at public schools must be a community-focused effort. This requires the collaboration of federal, state, and local policymakers, those who govern and manage schools, parents as well as law enforcement, other emergency responders and organizations that support children and families.

The CES was launched on September 1, 2010 and was originally a partnership of MSBA, the Missouri Department of Public Safety and the Missouri Office of Homeland Security. MSBA assumed full support of CES in 2017 when state funding for school safety was no longer available.

Partner Programs

Missouri Department of Public Safety
Missouri Department of Elementary & Secondary Education
CrisisGo - Safety for Everyone, Everywhere
Strategos International - protective services, training, and security consulting

Training

Behavioral Risk Assessment Overview:  A 1-2 hour exploratory presentation for schools considering implementing a behavioral risk assessment team.  The presentation includes an overview of what a behavioral risk assessment team is, who should be on the team, and how it functions to prevent or mitigate an individual’s risk for violence.

Behavioral Risk Assessment Team Training:  An 8-hour training module for the school’s selected behavioral risk assessment team. Training includes why there is a need for risk assessment, how the team works together to assess risk for violence, what data/information is used to make an assessment, and how to develop a management plan using the assessment results.  Teams will use real case scenarios to practice skills learned during training.

Contact CES at ces@mosba.org or 573-638-7501 to schedule your training or for additional information.

The Missouri School Boards’ Association’s Center for Education Safety and the Missouri Department of Transportation are pleased to offer free training for any adult crossing guard in Missouri.

Register to view the training.

This training satisfies the state requirement for board members to compete one hour of Refresher Training for each year of board service after the initial year. The training must include concepts covered in the initial new board member training plus the prevention of sexual abuse of children. Explore training opportunities here.

Realistic Strategies for Indoor Air Quality

Webinar Recording Part One – February 23, 2022   (1:06:49)
Webinar Recording Part Two – March 9, 2022    (1:18:50)
ABCs and 123s of Healthy Schools PPT
ABC’s and 123’s of Healthy Schools PDF
IAQ Powerpoint Part One
IAQ 2.23.22 Part Two PPT
IAQ Checklist PDF
IAQ EvaluationToolV1

Suicide Prevention Crisis Number 988: What You Need to Know – February 18, 2022

Webinar Recording  (1:00:02)
PowerPoint Presentation
988 Information Sheet (.PDF)

Meeting the K12 Cybersecurity Challenge

Webinar Recording (1:59:08)
PowerPoint Presentation

Tobacco and E-Cigarette webinars – November 18, 2021

Navigating the Tobacco and E-cigarette Epidemic:  What Parents Need to Know  (59:00)
Navigating the Tobacco and E-cigarette Epidemic:  What Schools Need to Know  (53:12)

Healthy Schools Forum – October 21, 2021

Naloxone in Schools (52:38)
Linda Neumann, RN
Secretary/Treasurer for the National Association of School Nurses
National Association of School Nurses

Peggy Karleskint, RN
Immediate Past President and Education Chair for Missouri School Nurses Association
Missouri School Nurses Association

How Poor Indoor Air Quality Impacts Students (50:40)
Luke Gard, CIEC, CMC, BOC
Safe and Healthy School Program Manager
Environmental Health Program, Children’s Mercy Hospitals and Clinics

Indoor Air Quality Assessments (58:22)
John Kraemer, Ph.D
Professor, Department of Biology and Environmental Science Program
Director, Center for Environmental Analysis
CEO, Institute for Environmental Health Assessment and Patient Centered Outcomes
Southeast Missouri State University

How to Have a Vape-Free School (1:01:45)
Joyce Lara
Tobacco Use Prevention Specialist
Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services

Understanding Medical Marijuana (1:00:09)
Corporal Ryan Hutton
Director of MSHP’s Impaired Driving and Drug Recognition Programs
Missouri State Highway Patrol

Indoor Air Quality (IAQ):

Knowledge You Need to Improve IAQ in Missouri School Environments – Video

Knowledge You Need to Improve IAQ in Missouri School Environments – Podcast

IAQ No Cost-Low Cost Solutions – Video

IAQ No Cost-Low Cost Solutions – Podcast

IAQ Cleaning and Chemicals in School Environment – Video

IAQ Cleaning and Chemicals in School Environment – Podcast

IAQ School Nurses & Signs in Students – Video

IAQ School Nurses & Signs in Students – Podcast

SchoolBiz Chat

Student Safety Is Our #1 Priority

The School Safety Academy will provide courses at no cost via classroom instruction for certification of students as a “School Safety Specialist.”  Following certification, School Safety Specialists will be required to complete 8 hours of additional training each year (including the year they attend the academy) to maintain certification. Academy training, and subsequent advanced training opportunities, will be focused around safety topics that include:

  • Effective Communication/ Information Sharing; 
  • Mental Health/Behavioral Risk; 
  • School Climate and Culture; 
  • Emergency Operations Plan; 
  • Physical Security/Technology; 
  • Safety Assessments/ Audits; 
  • Training/ Drills; 
  • Legal Issues; 
  • Cyber Security.
I sincerely believe this was one of the most beneficial
professional development opportunities I’ve been
associated with over my thirty-one years in public education,
and eight years in non-profit leadership.
– Academy Participant

Learn More

The next academy will be held  July 25-27, 2023 in Jefferson City.  REGISTER NOW

For information, contact Deb Hendricks at:  hendricks@mosba.org.

Did you know students in the juvenile justice system have fewer opportunities for success in school and employment? Fortunately, there are other options!
When diversion programs are used, students are 45% less likely to commit another offense.

In the Reducing the School to Prison Pipeline video series, you will hear from members of several disciplines about their roles and responsibilities, and how we all can respond to youth misbehavior more effectively with proven
methods that put students on the path to success.

To access the video series, click the registration link. Once you have completed registration, you will receive instructions to access the training. There is no cost to access the training.

Contact CES at ces@mosba.org or 573-638-7501 to schedule your training or for additional information.

What attendees are saying about the Safety Academy

Resources

USSS: Mass Attacks in Public Spaces 2016 – 2020

Active-Shooter-Incidents-20-Year Review 2000-2019

Averting Targeted School Violence 2021, USSS

Enhancing School Safety Using a Threat Assessment Model

Indicators of School Crime 2020

K-12 School Security Guide

Making Schools Safer 2018, FBI

Prior Knowledge of Potential School-Based Violence: Information Students Learn May Prevent a Targeted Attack

Sample Behavioral Risk Assessment Policy

Ten Essential Actions to Improve School Safety

The Final Report on the Safe School Initiative

Reporting Cyber Attacks or Data Breaches:

Vulnerability Assessments, Workshops & Tabletop Exercises

Information, Resources & Training

Each school day, Missouri k-12 schools are entrusted to provide a safe and healthy learning environment for approximately one million elementary and secondary school students in public and private schools. Families and communities expect schools to keep their children and youths safe from threats (human-caused emergencies such as crime and violence) and hazards (natural disasters, disease outbreaks, and accidents). In collaboration with their local government and community partners, schools can take steps to plan for these potential emergencies through the creation of a school Emergency Operations Plan (school EOP).

Guide for Developing High-Quality School Emergency Operations Plans
Guide for Developing High-Quality School Emergency Operations Plans For Institutions of Higher Education
REMS–TA: Free EOP Evaluation Tool
CES Emergency Planning for Students with Special and Functional Needs
FEMA: Developing and Maintaining Emergency Operations Plans

FIVE PREPAREDNESS MISSIONS

FEMA overview of the five mission areas identified by the National Preparedness Goal

Prevention:

A Parent’s Guide to Suicide Prevention
Bullying Prevention Resource Guide
DHS Active Shooter response
FEMA IS907 Active Shooter: What you can do
FBI: The School Shooter: A THREAT ASSESSMENT PERSPECTIVE
The Bomb Threat Challenge, FBI Bomb Data Center
School Safety Info
Suicide Prevention
DESE School Safety Resources
US Department of Education Safe and Drug Free Schools Resources

Mitigation:

Stop bullying- National Program
FEMA IS907 Active Shooter: What you can do
FEMA: Emergency Management Institute School Program
Emergency Planning for Students with Functional and Special Needs
FEMA NIMS/ICS Training 
Mental Health Crisis Resources
Student Protests: Trouble or a Teachable Moment?
Substance Abuse Resources
Suicide Prevention Resources

Protection

ALICE Training
FEMA: Design Guidance for Shelters and Safe Rooms
Missouri Alert Network
National Incident Management System/REMS-TA

Response

Active Shooter: What Can You Do?
American Red Cross
DHS Active Shooter response
DisasterAssistance.gov
Emergency Communications: Incorporating National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Public Alert Radios into School Emergency
Preparing for Mass Casualty Incidents: A Guide for Schools, Higher Education
United Way 2-1-1

Recovery

How Schools can help Students recover From Traumatic Experiences
Mental Health Crisis Resources
Substance Abuse Resources
Suicide Prevention Resources

Arson Hotline —For Reporting
1-800-392-7766

Child Abuse or Neglect—For Reporting
1-800-392-3738

Public Health Emergency—For Reporting
1-800-392-0272

Courage2Report Hotline—For Reporting
1-866-748-7047

Suicide Prevention (National) Hotline
1-800-273-TALK (8255)

Bully Prevention and Response

Suicide Prevention Online Training: “Ask Listen Refer”

Behavioral Health Crisis Hotlines also known as Access Crisis Intervention – map of regional (free) hotline numbers

Mental Illness/Suicide Prevention Resources

Department of Mental Health has been running a Crisis Text Line Campaign encouraging youth and young adults to text if they are experiencing stress, a crisis or need someone to talk to. One example of the messaging is “Even in isolation, we’re still connected. Talk to a crisis counselor any time you need. Text ‘MOSAFE’ to 741-741.” As part of this campaign, a social media toolkit is available to access these materials online. The toolkit houses information that teachers, parents, caregivers and others can easily copy and paste and share the messaging to the youth virtually. It can easily be shared on websites, social media pages like facebook, and as well as on virtual classes and in emails to students.

The National Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC) has virtual resources for parents, teachers and students.

    • Ready to go handout that includes information on recognizing and responding to suicide warning signs, suicide prevention resources, and other information to help prevent suicide among students.
    • This is a list of websites and information for where parents should go to find more information (from 2017).
    • Another list of websites for where teens should go (also 2017).

MSBA’s Center for Education Safety has released a document designed to provide guidance to Missouri school districts in preparing for the reopening of school buildings. The document is called “Pandemic Recovery Considerations: Re-Entry and Reopening of Schools.” The guidance is based on recommendations from federal and state resources, collaborative partners and institutional best practices. Some of the topics covered in the document include: 
  • Health Protocols for Schools 
  • Social and Emotional Health 
  • Social Distancing in the School Environment
  • Handwashing and Infection Prevention Campaign Materials 
  • Student Transportation 
  • Physical Plant 
  • Academic Programs 
  • School Board Governance Responsibilities 

MSBA Resources for the COVID-19 Pandemic

This is a living document that will be updated as new information is learned and new ideas are shared. Please forward any comments or ideas to ces@mosba.org. 

Final Report of the Federal Commission on School Safety, December 12, 2018 
SchoolSafety.gov

Barney the School Bus and the Danger Zones
School Bus Driving – It’s not just a job, it’s a profession!
School Bus Danger Zones – Jacob’s story…nine years later
Driving Distracted…and then it happened
Youth mental health awareness for school bus drivers
MAPT: School Bus Evacuation Procedures
School Bus Pre-Trip Inspection

Contact CES:

Center for Education Safety
Amy Roderick, Director
573-638-7501, ext.420
ces@mosba.org

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