The Minnesota School Safety Center is excited to host a virtual lunch and learn:

"Educating for Safety: Understanding Hazmat and Bomb Threat Risks in Schools".

Presented by: Brad Winger, Assistant State Emergency Teams Coordinator, Minnesota State Fire Marshal's Division

When: Friday, November 22nd 11:00am-12:00pm CST

Location: Microsoft TEAMS 

Registration: Click Here

This presentation will equip participants with knowledge and skills to recognize and respond to hazardous material incidents (hazmat) and bomb threats in school environments. 

The presentation will include:

• Types of bomb calls occurring in schools and response protocols.
• Bomb Squad response, and equipment used. Including BATS data school bomb calls, response protocols, credibility, type of calls, etc.
• Discussion around most common HAZMAT calls (chlorine, mixing chemicals and science labs).
• Concerns and resources for railroads near schools. 
• Plans for communicating during HAZMAT or Bomb incidents.

Target audience:

• School Administrators
• School Emergency Response Teams
• School Resource Officers
• Emergency Managers
• Others involved in school safety and security or emergency response

Established in 2015, the Averted School Violence database has been rebuilt to enhance reporting and maximize impact. Join our mission to improve school safety and prevent future violence by anonymously and securely submitting an averted incident for review.

Submit an Averted Incident HERE 

An averted incident of school violence is a shooting or other planned violent attack that was prevented before any injury or loss of life occurred at the targeted educational institution.

Since 2015, school personnel, law enforcement officers, mental health professionals, and others involved in school safety have had the opportunity to share their averted school violence stories and lessons learned, in order to improve school safety and help prevent future tragedies. Read more on the full ASV history here.

In reviewing cases for inclusion in the database Safe and Sound Schools looks for: means, opportunity, motive and intent to carry out a targeted school attack. Incidents of violence on school grounds not related to the school (e.g., gang-related violence) and social media threats not deemed credible by law enforcement are excluded from the database.

Sharing your story is an anonymous, secure, non-punitive, and confidential process.

Dates: Tuesday, December 10th 8:00am - 3:30pm 

Location: Dean Lakes Education Center, 4601 Deal Lakes BLVD. Shakopee, MN

Cost: $100 includes participant manual, workshop fee, and lunch. 

Registration: Click HERE

Although schools have a relatively low rate of violent crime in comparison to other settings, concerns about school shootings have stimulated increased school security and use of zero tolerance discipline. School threat assessment is a more proactive and flexible violence prevention practice that is used when an individual threatens to commit a violent act or engages in threatening behavior. Threat assessment includes the identification, assessment, and management of threats with the goal of resolving conflicts or problems before they escalate into violence.

The DHS National Threat Evaluation and Reporting (NTER) Program Office announced that the 2025 application window for the Master Trainer Program has opened and will remain open until 11:59pm EST on Saturday, November 30, 2024.

The Master Trainer Program (MTP) certifies federal, state, local, tribal and territorial (F/SLTT) homeland security partners in the instruction of Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management (BTAM) techniques and best practices. This instructor development program prepares F/SLTT partners to train their local communities and empowers homeland partners to mitigate threats and prevent acts of targeted violence. Once accepted into the MTP, candidates begin the Master Trainer Certification Roadmap. Candidates may complete the roadmap in any order. Upon completion, candidates will be certified as Master Trainers.

The MTP is available to ANY current employee of a public sector, Federal, State, Local, Tribal, or Territorial (F/SLTT) agency (including school or district personnel) with at two years of experience in the public safety field. Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to review the 2025 Master Trainer Program Course Announcement and check out the Master Trainer Program Applications FAQ page for additional details on minimum requirements, next steps, application materials, and program expectations.

To apply, complete the Master Trainer Program Application Form. Please be sure to read all instructions before filling out the form.

School Resource Officer Network

The School Resource Officer Network is a space for SRO’s and SRO Supervisors to collaborate, share ideas, and develop professionally with colleagues across the state. Presenters will be invited into multiple network meetings. Topics may include but are not limited to: mental health, trauma, resilience, restorative practices, alternative discipline, self-care, and school partnerships. Resource Training & Solutions will host six network meetings per school year.

2024-25 Meeting Dates:

All meetings are held virtually, 9:00 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. Dates with an asterisk marks dates in person meetings will be held, with the option to zoom in. In person meetings meet at Resource Training & Solutions in Sartell. Cost is $205

Reach out to Megan Perry LSW, Climate and Culture Lead with interest or questions!

The MN School Safety Center serves as a resource for all-hazards safety planning and training of all preK-12 schools (public, public charter, private, and tribal.) Their work is a non-regulatory and no-cost resource to you and your learning communities.