Representatives of numerous local school districts and public education institutions gathered at the Amherst Police Training Center on Wednesday, Nov. 20 to engage in a discussion organized by the WNY Educational Service Council (WNYESC) on how to make schools more safe and secure.
The program, entitled "Trends in Safety & Implementation," facilitated a dialogue with law enforcement personnel, school security providers, and district leaders who have experience implementing new security measures in schools. It was coordinated by WNYESC, a non-profit organization which provides support services for school districts and educational institutions throughout WNY, as part of its monthly Leadership Series.
Topics included safety preparedness and planning, crisis response, drills, threat assessments, the role of armed officers in schools, securing entrances/building exteriors, interior door hardening, weapons detection systems, and much more. The goal of the program was to empower participants to return to their organizations with a greater understanding of what they can do to improve school security. It was also intended to educate participants about potential costs and challenges they might encounter from the perspective of district leaders with experience implementing these initiatives.
Taking part in the program were representatives of the Allegany-Limestone, Cumberland Valley, East Aurora, Eden, Kenmore-Town of Tonawanda, North Collins, Springville-Griffith Institute, Sweet Home, Wellsville, and West Seneca school districts as well as Reach Academy Charter School, West Buffalo Charter School, and Erie 1 BOCES.
Discussions ranged from the importance of meaningful, deliberate safety planning and drills and various strategies to make schools more secure to practical considerations behind the implementation of new security measures and emerging technologies such as automatic weapons detection systems.
Leading the day's discussions were WNYESC Executive Director Anthony Day, Jeffrey Gilbert and Jeffrey Rinaldo of Vista Security, Bryan Jones of the Tarian Group, Tom Barillari of the U.S. Secret Service, Cheri Alvarez of Compeer, Kenmore-Town of Tonawanda UFSD Superintendent Sabatino Cimato, Niagara-Wheatfield CSD Superintendent Dan Lilljanich, Grand Island CSD Superintendent Dr. Brian Graham, and Grand Island Assistant Superintendent John Fitzpatrick.
Future Leadership Series topics include best practices in special education, artificial intelligence, home schooling considerations for districts, and effective leadership. For more information on WNYESC, visit www.wnyesc.org.