- From the Executive Director
- Parent Engagement Committee
- The Effects of Cyberbullying
- Unity Day
- Charter School Planning Year
- Multidisciplinary Team
- Marjory Stoneman Douglas Tour
- Youth Leadership Training
- Youth Legislative Assembly
- Annual Census of School Resource Officers
- Parent Tips
- School Safety Grant
- SRMP Training
- YMHFA Training
- Threat Assessment Training
- Executive Director Tours
- Calendar of Events
- Follow Us
- Tell Us About It
October was a busy month of engagement for the Center for Safer Schools.
The month saw the first in-person meeting of our Multidisciplinary Team, as well as the inaugural meeting of our Parent Engagement Committee. It was good to see new faces, as well as people who have worked with the CFSS in the past. Read more about both meetings below.
On two occasions, I made presentations at events sponsored by the Department of Public Instruction’s Office of Charter Schools. One event was an information session for ready-to-open charter schools, and I was happy to inform them of school safety legislative requirements. Read more about those events below.
Unity Day 2023 generated lots of engagement as well. I was pleased to see all the likes, shares and reposts of the submitted photos we posted. Our social media accounts have new followers, which allow for more engagement opportunities.
Engagement is key to school safety. Groups such as the Multidisciplinary Team and Parent Engagement Committee are important, but it shouldn’t stop there.
It is important that parents and schools work to support one another. The Center for Safer Schools looks forward to working with school personnel, supporting them and being a trusted resource in all matters of school safety.
Remember that cfss@dpi.nc.gov and schoolsafetygrants@dpi.nc.gov are always open. You also can engage with us on Facebook, Instagram and X (Twitter).
Finally, my monthly video message is available on YouTube. This month’s topic is Military Families Month/Thanksgiving Message. Click here to view the video.
Thank you for your cooperation to help keep our schools safer.
— Karen W. Fairley
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The Center for Safer Schools Parent Engagement Committee held its inaugural meeting Friday, Oct. 27 at the Education Building in Raleigh. Members were briefed on legislation and CFSS initiatives that relate to parents and families.
The Parent Engagement Committee is 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 to ensure diverse geographical participation. Members will share their aspirations for and discuss challenges within the K-12 education system, helping to put together recommendations for elected officials and policymakers in North Carolina. Their commitment lasts until June 30, 2025.
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CFSS Executive Director Karen W. Fairley told the committee that it’s important to keep parents engaged in all matters of school safety.
“I would like to have a foundation with the children of North Carolina to ensure our babies are able to be children one time and to go to school and be safe,” she said. “Our children need their parents to be part of this process.”
Members selected subcommittees involving areas of committee concern: Behavioral Health, School Climate and Social Media/Internet Safety.
The inaugural meeting was held at the end of National Bullying Prevention Month. Fairley said educating parents on bullying prevention will be a primary focus initially.
“The parent has a big part in it,” she said. “You know your child better than anyone.”
Some members of the Parent Engagement Committee also are members of the Parent Advisory Commission, which was founded by State Superintendent Catherine Truitt in 2022.
Truitt told the Parent Engagement Committee that their work is important, especially with topics such as juvenile justice.
“I have those hard conversations every day with schools,” she said.
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During the online Office of Charter Schools Open Office Hours on Thursday, Oct. 12, Center for Safer Schools Executive Director Karen W. Fairley made a presentation on cyberbullying.
Fairley said that with the prevalence of mobile device use and social media, bullying no longer stops at schools.
“It’s relentless. It’s constant,” she said. “It makes it easier for that to happen.”
Fairley said that with “keyboard warriors,” there is often “no accountability,” as those who perpetrate cyberbullying often don’t see the effects.
“The person is more of an object than a real person. You don’t have to see how hurt they are,” she said. “There needs to be something or someone to address the person doing the bullying.”
Parents are key to preventing cyberbullying, Fairley said.
“We have to control how our children use the technology we entrust them with,” she said.
 Center for Safer Schools staff members wear orange on Unity Day 2023. (Submitted photo)
As part of National Bullying Prevention Month, schools across North Carolina joined some of the Center for Safer Schools staff in wearing orange to mark Unity Day, which this year was Wednesday, Oct. 18. Unity Day promotes kindness, acceptance and inclusion. Orange is worn because it’s a warm color associated with safety. For information on how you can help prevent bullying, visit Pacer.org and StopBullying.gov.
 Center for Safer Schools Executive Director Karen W. Fairley gives an overview of school safety legislation Oct. 25 at the Education Building in Raleigh. (CFSS photo)
Center for Safer Schools Executive Director Karen W. Fairley on Wednesday, Oct. 25 gave an overview of school safety legislation to representatives of nine charter schools that will open in fall 2024.
Fairley told the group at the Education Building in Raleigh that they must designate a safety director who can engage with the CFSS. The new charter schools are also required to hold fire drills and establish an anonymous reporting system.
Charter schools are now required to submit a School Risk Management Plan, which was formerly optional but recommended. The plan includes schematics and emergency response procedures in the event of incidents such as an active shooter, tornado or fire.
HB 605 also requires threat assessment teams at all North Carolina public-school units. Fairley said the CFSS will release guidelines for the teams in the upcoming months.
“We’re here to help you do whatever you can to keep your students and staff safe,” she said.
The Center for Safer Schools Multidisciplinary Team held its first in-person meeting Wednesday, Oct. 18 at the Education Building in Raleigh. Members received an update on the MDT’s mission as well as updates on legislation and CFSS initiatives.
The MDT, which was formed earlier this year, supports CFSS initiatives by including subject matter experts to assist in identifying, developing or enhancing programs to meet its legislative requirements. Its two dozen members include current and retired educators, as well as current and retired law enforcement. Their commitment lasts until June 30, 2025.
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The MDT held its first meeting virtually in February. During the Oct. 18 in-person meeting, CFSS Executive Director Karen W. Fairley led MDT subcommittees in a workshop on its five areas of concern: Behavioral Health, School Climate, LE/SRO Partnership, Physical Security/Emergency Preparedness and Alternative Learning Programs.
Fairley said the MDT was crafted specifically to address these topics.
“These five areas are crucial to the safety of students in North Carolina,” she said. “The members of the Multidisciplinary Team were selected because of their expertise in these fields, along with their deep concern about the safety of our children.
“MDT members will exchange ideas with one another and also with Center for Safer Schools staff members. I look forward to seeing their work unfold over the next year and a half.”
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 Rep. John Torbett speaks to employees at the National Crisis Center in Miami on Oct. 16. (Submitted photos)
During the weekend of Oct. 14, Center for Safer Schools Executive Director Karen W. Fairley toured the scene of the Feb. 14, 2018, shootings at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. She was accompanied by Rep. John Torbett, R-Gaston, and his legislative assistant, Viddia Torbett.
Fairley described the “very sobering” scene as frozen in time. The shootings – in which 14 students and three staff members were killed and 17 people were injured – occurred on Valentine’s Day. Decorations were still in the rooms where the shootings occurred, along with shoes and assignments the students were working on.
On Monday, Oct. 16, Fairley and the Torbetts visited Sandy Hook Promise’s National Crisis Center in Miami. Led by Director Jessica Neely, the Crisis Center handles tips received via the Say Something Anonymous Reporting System.
Fairley said the visit to the two sites underscores the important work the Center for Safer Schools does to support North Carolina school districts and charter schools.
“Touring the building where the Parkland shootings occurred really hit home, the impact it has on the victims’ families and the community,” she said. “At the Crisis Center, I was able to see the hard work being done to prevent such a tragedy from happening again.
“We at the Center for Safer Schools will continue to do all we can to help public-schools units keep everyone in their schools safer.”
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 Center for Safer Schools Student Engagement Manager Chelsea King (right) and Program Development Coordinator Kaliah Thompson work on an activity Oct. 20 at SAVE Promise Club Youth Leadership Training in Research Triangle Park. (CFSS photo)
Center for Safer Schools Student Engagement Manager Chelsea King and Program Development Coordinator Kaliah Thompson attended SAVE Promise Club Youth Leadership Training in Research Triangle Park on Friday, Oct. 20.
Representatives of a dozen SAVE Promise Clubs from across North Carolina attended the training. Participants received information on the Start With Hello and Say Something programs, as well as peer-to-peer guidance and action planning.
Students Against Violence Everywhere (SAVE) Promise Club is the youth leadership initiative of Sandy Hook Promise. Led by its Youth Advisory Board, the aim is to empower young leaders to take an active role in increasing school safety and preventing different forms of violence in schools and communities.
Click here for more information about SAVE Promise Clubs.
The Legislative Services Office, under the N.C. General Assembly, is accepting applications for the Youth Legislative Assembly, scheduled for April 19-21, 2024, in Raleigh. Applications will be accepted through Jan. 16, 2024. Click here to apply.
YLA teaches high school students about the laws governing North Carolinians as well as the lawmaking process. Students draft, debate and vote on mock legislative bills while developing skills in research, interviewing, group facilitation and policy writing. As the bills are debated, students get a chance to practice communicating their ideas, opinions and experiences in a team-building environment. At the conclusion of the three-day program, participants have a better understanding of the lawmaking process as well as enhanced written and oral communication skills.
YLA provides the opportunity for North Carolina’s youth to engage with peers from across the state in a structured, positive, youth-focused environment. The YLA program is open to students in North Carolina who are in good standing at a public, private, charter or home school.
For more information, email YLA Coordinator Erica Gallion.
N.C. General Statute 115C-105.57 requires the Center for Safer Schools to conduct an annual census of school resource officers located in each public-school unit. The 2023-2024 Census contains 31 multiple choice questions and two open-ended questions.
The question categories include General Background and Demographic Information, Agency and Funding Information, Training and Continuing Education, SRO Placements and Extra-Curricular Activities, School Safety Practices, Crimes on Campus and SRO Perspectives.
This survey is designed to be completed in one sitting. It should take only a few minutes to complete the survey, and all responses are confidential. Your answers will help identify the support and resources you might need.
The survey can be accessed here and will close Dec. 1, 2023, at 11:59 p.m.
To safeguard your children
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Be aware of what your kids are watching: In our on-demand, tech-savvy culture, children have instant access to a world of entertainment. Some of it isn’t good for them.
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Steer your children toward healthy friends: Teach your children to show respect to everyone, but also teach them that they need to be highly selective when it comes to choosing their inner circle of friends.
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Don’t just teach “rules,” teach “values”: Protecting your children means showing them corrective discipline, but it also means encouraging healthy values, which can be a compass to guide them through life.
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Eat together: This might sound overly simple, but research suggests a strong link between sharing family meals and the emotional health of children.
The 2023 School Safety Grant application closes Monday, Nov. 13, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. This funding is available only for public school units (school districts and charter schools) in North Carolina.
The grant categories included in this application are Safety Equipment, Services for Students in Crisis and Safety Training. Please note that funding awarded in fall 2022 for the hiring and training of school resource officers recurred for the 2023-24 school year. Therefore, SRO funding is not included in this application.
School districts and charter schools can access the School Safety Grant application through CCIP under “FY 2024, Funding application: Safer Schools.”
Before applying for this grant, make sure to read N.C. Session Law 2021-180 and Parts II and III of N.C. Session Law 2019-222.
The funding application must be submitted at least through the “Chief Administrator Approved” status by the closing time. No exceptions.
If you have questions, please submit them to schoolsafetygrants@dpi.nc.gov.
 Rich Clifton with N.C. Emergency Management conducts School Risk Management Plan Training on Oct. 11 at the Center for Safer Schools Training Center in Moore County. (CFSS photo)
The Center for Safer Schools will hold an online School Risk Management Plan training session via Webex on Tuesday, Dec. 5 from 2-4 p.m.
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.
To obtain the most beneficial training within the SRMP system, charter school personnel should ensure that their school has been loaded into the SRMP and that they have an active NCID and are able to log into SRMP. LEA personnel should make sure they can log into SRMP using their NCID.
If you are not able to log in, click here to try to reset your NCID password first.
Attendees are encouraged to bring a laptop, as they will receive technical guidance to ensure their plans meet the necessary state requirements. Please register for only one session, as they’re all the same.
For more information on SRMP training, send an email to CFSS Assistant Director-Physical Security Karen Everett.
Are you part of a tribal school or youth-serving organization that wants to implement Youth Mental Health First Aid? Are you implementing Youth Mental Health First Aid in tribal or rural schools or youth-serving organizations and would like instructor support?
YMHFA-related technical assistance and support could look like:
- School-specific or community mentorship and support
- On-site training modeling and mentoring
- Coaching and technical assistance
Technical assistance topics can include:
- Integrating YMHFA into your tribal community, tribal-serving youth organization and/or school
- Understanding the differences between the standard YMHFA course and the Tribal Communities and Indigenous Peoples Community Specific Course
- Resources to market and outreach to tribal leaders, school leaders, youth-serving organizations and programs
- Understanding historical and intergenerational trauma, the resilience of indigenous peoples and the implications of these with YMHFA
- Trauma-informed facilitation skills for YMHFA
- Adult-learning skills for YMHFA
- Navigating Connect: setting up and closing out a course
- Supporting a training group when there has been a community trauma (suicide, loss, etc.)
- Developing your community resource packet for YMHFA
- Developing relevant examples to share in your training (data, etc.)
- Integrating rural data, research and resources into YMHFA within your community
- Resources to market and outreach to rural schools and youth-serving organizations
- Meetings with other communities, schools and/or tribes navigating similar work to share best practices and successes
- Instructor support teaching YMHFA: challenges with timing, specific content, audience challenges, etc.
- Auditing a YMHFA course with a national trainer to gain tips and strategies to add to teaching notes
Start by taking this survey to share more about what your needs are.
For program information, contact Ruby Brown-Herring.
The Center for Safer Schools will offer free, virtual School Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management Training on Thursday, Nov. 16. The session will be hosted by the CFSS, with participation from the BeTA Unit of the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. The session will be conducted by Ontic.
BTAM training will provide fundamental information about school violence and how prevention is possible. The session will cover how to build and operate a school threat assessment team at the school or district level and assist with managing the assessment after completion.
The training will provide detailed instructions on specific procedures to use when addressing threatening behavior in school, including how to screen cases, gather information, analyze the information, make an assessment and implement an intervention plan when needed. The session includes multiple group exercises in which participants can practice using these procedures.
For more information on School Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management Training, send an email to cfss@dpi.nc.gov.
During the fall semester, Center for Safer Schools Executive Director Karen W. Fairley will continue her tours of North Carolina school districts and charter schools. She would like to see anything public school units want to showcase regarding school safety. For school districts, include stops at an elementary school, a middle school and a high school. Fairley also would like to take time to talk with a small group of students. To request a tour, send an email to cfss@dpi.nc.gov.
School Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management Training
(Registration is free)
- Thursday, Nov. 16; 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.: Register
SRMP Training
(Registration is free)
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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