- From the Executive Director
- School Safety Grant Final Report Reminder
- Parent Engagement Committee
- ASIST at RISE 2023
- “Choices” Screening
- SHINE/SEED Kickoffs
- Parent Tips
- SRMP Training
- Calendar of Events
- Follow Us
- Tell Us About It
At long last, the 2023 RISE Back to School Safety Summit is right around the corner! This year, our signature event will be held from 31 July-2 Aug. at the Gastonia Conference Center in Gaston County.
My staff has been working hard on preparations for months, and I believe this will be the best RISE yet. Dignitaries from Gastonia, Gaston County and the state – including State Superintendent Catherine Truitt and Deputy State Superintendent Dr. Jerry Oates – will open the summit. We have a great lineup of presentations that we will unveil in the coming days.
Visit the official RISE 2023 webpage for more information and links to discounted hotel rates.
I also want to extend my appreciation to the CFSS School Safety Advisory Council for its great service. Your support and contributions have been invaluable the last two years.
The current Advisory Council term ends Monday, July 31. As the council takes shape for the 2023-24 school year, we would like to know who is interested in serving.
To serve a two-year term on the School Safety Advisory Council, you must be a safety director at a North Carolina school district or charter school. If you’re interested, please send an email to cfss@dpi.nc.gov.
Thank you for your cooperation, and I look forward to seeing you in Gastonia!
— Karen W. Fairley
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If your district or charter school was awarded a North Carolina School Safety Grant during fiscal year 2022-23, please complete your final report. This report is intended to be reflective of the progress that your organization has made toward satisfying your program goals and objectives of the grant.
Please ensure that you answer all questions thoroughly as your answers will be used to satisfy information requests from Department of Public Instruction leadership, the State Board of Education and/or the General Assembly.
This report is for the period ending June 30, 2023. No N.C. School Safety Grant Program monies should have been spent after the June 30, 2023, deadline.
Please complete the report by Friday, July 14, 2023, at 5 p.m.
To be eligible for the second year of funding for the N.C. School Safety Grant Program, contingent upon the passage of appropriations from the General Assembly, you must complete the midterm and final grant reports. Districts and charter schools that do not submit their midterm and final reports will not be eligible for School Safety Grant funding for the 2023-24 school year.
The Center for Safer Schools is launching a Parent Engagement Committee, a 24-member advisory board made up of three (two from school districts and one from charter schools) parents/guardians from the state’s eight educational regions.
Applicants are required to have a child in K-12 at the time of applying; answer the required questions; be a legal North Carolina resident; and be able to serve for at least two years while attending monthly meetings (which will be both virtual and a minimum of two times in-person).
Applicants are required to have at least one reference from a public figure or educator. An educator is anyone who works in the North Carolina education system. A public figure could be – but is not limited to – a member of the local chamber or a county commissioner.
The Parent Engagement Committee application is available at the following link: Application. Applications are due Monday, July 17. Selected committee members will be notified by Friday, July 28.
Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) will be offered at the 2023 RISE Back to School Safety Summit. LivingWorks ASIST teaches participants to provide a skilled intervention and develop a collaborative safety plan to keep someone safe and alive. Trusted by professionals yet learnable by anyone, LivingWorks ASIST is the world's leading suicide intervention model. Space is limited, so please register soon at the following link: Register.
Attendees watch the film "Choices" at the Education Building in Raleigh on Wednesday, June 28. (CFSS photo)
The Center for Safer Schools on Wednesday, June 28 hosted a screening of the film “Choices” at the Education Building in Raleigh. The event was the fourth of 10 monthly events to mark the CFSS’ 10th anniversary.
“Choices” is usually shown on Day 1 of the CFSS’ Educating Kids About Gun and Gang Violence (EKG2) program. EKG2 teaches seventh- and ninth-grade students about the possible legal, medical and emotional consequences of youth gun possession, substance abuse and related gun violence. “Choices” challenges youth to consider safe options when facing potentially violent situations.
CFSS Social Work Consultant Michelle Guarino, MSW, LCSW, RYT, explained the history of EKG2 and provided updates. She led a discussion with attendees about the film and issues facing both teens and parents.
Center for Safer Schools Executive Director Karen W. Fairley speaks during the SHINE/SEED kickoff meeting in Person County on Thursday, June 22. (Submitted photo)
The Center for Safer Schools held its initial SHINE/SEED kickoff meetings in Person and Vance counties on June 22 and 23, respectively.
The SHINE Leadership Academy engages community agencies and leaders to provide career exploration and self-discovery opportunities that help middle school students understand, experience and pursue what’s possible. Through a combination of interactive workshops, peer mentorships and service-learning projects, SHINE engages students to think about what’s possible for their futures in new and exciting ways.
Research shows that many students in the middle grades struggle to see the connection between what they are learning in school and their future – often creating a disconnect and lack of interest in their education. This uncertainty and lack of connection often leads to higher rates of school and community violence among disconnected youth, particularly in rural communities.
The CFSS recognizes the middle school years as a critical time of development for exploration, inspiration and learning to help students stay connected and safe. As we work toward achieving healthier and safer schools and communities, the CFSS knows the importance of engaging the community as we wrap around middle school youth. Since we know it truly takes a community, our Student Engagement Team believes in the power of partnerships with schools and community agencies to provide youth access to inspirational role models and safe environments.
The Supporting, Educating, Empowering and Developing (SEED) Program is a yearlong leadership program for local youth in ninth through 12th grades, administered by the CFSS.
Through SEED, we strive to provide youth with the opportunity to:
- Gain meaningful service learning experience
- Learn and develop the skills, attitudes and commitment necessary to succeed in today’s world of work
- Gain exposure to various exciting career opportunities
- Interact with dynamic working professionals in a positive work environment
- Participate in leadership, coaching, healthy relationships, community engagement and career development workshops
Although SEED summer service learning is a short-term leadership, skills-building and career exploration program, our goal is to introduce our youth to community leaders who will positively impact their futures. Community leaders and local businesses make this program possible by volunteering to serve as mentors and providing structured service learning opportunities for youth during the summer.
Rich Clifton of N.C. Emergency Management speaks during School Risk Management Plan training Wednesday, June 14 at the Center for Safer Schools Training Center in Moore County. (CFSS photo)
The Center for Safer Schools will host School Risk Management Plan training this summer and fall at the Training Center in Moore County. The sessions are scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 9 and Wednesday, Oct. 11.
After completing SRMP training, attendees will be able to:
- Input site-based school data to develop a comprehensive schematic diagram and plans into the SRMP portal.
- Both identify and discuss vulnerabilities and training gaps in their individual plans.
- At least once annually initiate a full schoolwide tabletop exercise on the procedures documented in the SRMP portal.
Before you attend SRMP training, please ensure that you have an NCID and can access the SRMP system. If you have difficulty obtaining access, email Karen.Everett@dpi.nc.gov.
Attendees are encouraged to bring a laptop, as the sessions will review their individual school plans in the SRMP portal. They will receive technical guidance to ensure their plans meet the necessary state requirements.
All sessions will be held from 10 a.m. to noon at 3600 Samarcand Road in Jackson Springs. Please sign up for only one session, as they are both the same.
RISE: July 31-Aug. 2
(Registration is free)
- School personnel: Register
- School resource officers/law enforcement: Register
- Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training: Register
School Risk Management Plan Training
(Registration is free)
- Wednesday, Aug. 9, 10 a.m.; Training Center, 3600 Samarcand Road, Jackson Springs: Register
CFSS 10th Anniversary Lunch and Learn
(Registration is free)
- Fundamental Principles of the School Resource Officer Program: Friday, Sept. 8, 12:15 p.m.: Register
The Center for Safer Schools welcomes newsletter submissions about school safety events from school districts and charter schools across North Carolina. Please email your information and photos to Charles.Kinnin@dpi.nc.gov.
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