- From the Executive Director
- RISE 2023
- CFSS 10th Anniversary Mini-RISE
- Ice Cream Social
- Parent Tips
- September Trainings
- SRMP Training
- Calendar of Events
- Follow Us
- Tell Us About It
For many of you, the beginning of the 2023-24 school year is right around the corner. And for some of you, school has already begun.
No matter the start date, know that the Center for Safer Schools is here to support you in all matters of school safety. The CFSS is growing, so that will allow us to better serve school districts and charter schools across North Carolina. Don’t hesitate to contact us at cfss@dpi.nc.gov if you need assistance.
During the fall semester, I plan to continue my tours of districts and charters. As with my spring tours, I would like to see anything you want to showcase regarding school safety. I would also like to take time to talk with a small group of students.
In the coming weeks, my staff will contact districts and charters that already invited me to tour. To request a tour, send an email to cfss@dpi.nc.gov. I look forward to meeting all of you and seeing what you’re doing to help keep our schools safer.
Lastly, my staff and I want to extend our appreciation to all the speakers and participants who attended the 2023 RISE Back to School Safety Summit in Gastonia. Special thanks go to the Gastonia Conference Center and Esquire Hotel.
Thank you for your cooperation, and I hope you have a fun, productive and safe school year.
— Karen W. Fairley
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RISE 2023
More than 250 educators and law enforcement helped the Center for Safer Schools kick off the 2023 RISE Back to School Safety Summit in Gastonia.
State and local officials – including State Superintendent Catherine Truitt (top left), Deputy Superintendent Dr. Jerry Oates (center) and CFSS Executive Director Karen W. Fairley – delivered remarks to begin the three-day summit on Monday, July 31.
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Truitt said RISE 2023 specifically addressed challenges that North Carolina schools face, including hoaxes, swatting, school climate, bullying prevention and suicide prevention.
"There is an ever-increasing need to offer informational and educational support to school leaders, security professionals, and law enforcement," she said.
RISE – the CFSS’ signature event – focuses on the Resiliency, Information, Support and Empowerment needed when supporting children and adolescents in schools and communities.
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The training offers a range of sessions covering the issues of bullying, suicide, critical incidents and other vital information about trauma and victimization among children and adolescents, and how these various dynamics impact school climate and school safety. Trainings held during the summit included child abuse prevention, gang awareness, human trafficking and School Risk Management Plans.
RISE 2023 was the sixth monthly event held in recognition of the CFSS’ 10th anniversary.
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For the seventh monthly event in recognition of its 10th anniversary, the Center for Safer Schools will host an online mini-RISE on Friday, Sept. 8. The topic will be “Fundamental Principles of the School Resource Officer Program,” presented by CFSS Director of Training Quintin Trent.
Participants will receive the fundamental concepts of the school resource officer program, as well as an overview of the SRO and school administrator partnership. Participants also will receive the statutory information that governs the SRO program.
The mini-RISE will be held via Webex. A registration link is listed in the Calendar of Events.
Center for Safer Schools Director of Training Quintin Trent (left) and Director of Compliance and Programs Debbie Walker talk with attendees during an Ice Cream Social at the Education Building in Raleigh on Wednesday, July 19. (CFSS photo)
The Center for Safer Schools on Wednesday, July 19 held an Ice Cream Social for N.C. Department of Public Instruction staff members at the Education Building in Raleigh. The Ice Cream Social was the fifth monthly event in recognition of the CFSS' 10th anniversary.
The Center for Safer Schools has scheduled the following September sessions at the Training Center in Moore County:
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Transportation Security Administration School Bus Awareness Training (Thursday, Sept. 7): The outreach program is designed to give school administrators, bus transportation personnel and district level staff the ability to establish standards for security programs and give them the ability assess security vulnerabilities. The training objectives are to provide school personnel the resources to mitigate vulnerabilities in their school bus security programs, including recognizing and implementing best practices scenarios for active shooter events involving both school buses and school facilities.
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Bullying Overview/Mitigation Strategies (Tuesday, Sept. 19): The material presented will allow stakeholders the ability to recognize and respond to bullying; cultivate a climate where bullying is not tolerated; and establish learning communities that flourish through the foundation of mutual respect and understanding.
Registration links are included in the Calendar of Events. If you have questions about a training session, email CFSS Director of Training Quintin Trent.
The Center for Safer Schools will host School Risk Management Plan training Wednesday, Oct. 11 at the Training Center in Moore County.
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 CFSS Assistant Director of School Safety and Security Karen Everett.
Attendees are encouraged to bring a laptop, as they will receive technical guidance to ensure their plans meet the necessary state requirements.
Transportation Security Administration School Bus Awareness Training
(Registration is free)
- Thursday, Sept. 7, 9 a.m.-noon; Center for Safer Schools Training Center, 3600 Samarcand Road, Jackson Springs: Register
CFSS 10th Anniversary Mini-RISE
(Registration is free)
- Fundamental Principles of the School Resource Officer Program: Friday, Sept. 8, 12:15-12:45 p.m.: Register
Bullying Overview/Mitigation Strategies
(Registration is free)
- Tuesday, Sept. 19, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; Center for Safer Schools Training Center, 3600 Samarcand Road, Jackson Springs: Register
School Risk Management Plan Training
(Registration is free)
- Wednesday, Oct. 11, 10 a.m.-noon; Center for Safer Schools Training Center, 3600 Samarcand Road, Jackson Springs: Register
The Center for Safer Schools welcomes newsletter submissions about school safety events from school districts and charter schools across North Carolina. Email your information and photos to CFSS Public Relations Specialist Charles Kinnin.
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