- From the Executive Director
- Human Trafficking Prevention Month
- NCSBA Annual Conference
- PPEERS
- SAVE Promise Club Youth Summit
- Youth Legislative Assembly
- Parent Tips
- SRMP Training
- Understanding and Planning for School Bombing Incidents
- Executive Director Tours
- Calendar of Events
- Follow Us
- Tell Us About It
As we close out 2023, I want to spotlight the need for children’s safety during the upcoming winter break.
While school safety is of the utmost importance for the Center for Safer Schools, it’s also important for children to be safe when they’re not in the classroom. A stable home environment lays the foundation for success in school and in life.
Children need safe activities while they’re not in school. These days, children of all ages are plugged into mobile devices and online. They can learn a lot – both good and bad – on the internet and social media.
While there are many benefits to these platforms, we know that there may be people who don’t have our children’s best interests at heart. Therefore we need to do what we can to support our children.
Physical health is as important as mental health. During the school break, we encourage our children to enjoy outdoor activities, whether it’s going outside to play in the cool air or viewing the holiday lights in the neighborhood.
Finally, click here to view my monthly video message on YouTube.
Thank you for your cooperation to help keep our schools safer. May you and your loved ones have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
— Karen W. Fairley
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January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, which raises awareness about human trafficking and serves to educate the public about how to identify and prevent it. The Center for Safer Schools is doing its part by hosting eight simultaneous screenings of the film “Choices” across each of its eight educational regions.
The screenings will be held at the following locations on Thursday, Jan. 25 from 6:00-7:30 p.m.:
Western: Minitorium, 175 Bingham Road, Asheville
Northwest: Bowman Middle School Auditorium, 410 S. Mitchell Ave., Bakersville
Southwest: West Cabarrus High School, 4100 Weddington Road, Concord
Piedmont-Triad: Morehead High School, 134 N. Pierce St., Eden
North Central: Room 150, Education Building, 301 N. Wilmington St., Raleigh
Sandhills: Turlington School Auditorium, 116 W. Prospect Ave., Raeford
Southeast: Odell Williamson Auditorium, Brunswick Community College, 50 College Road NW, Bolivia
Northeast: Northampton County High School, 152 Hurricane Drive, Gaston
Following the screenings, Center for Safer Schools staff will facilitate a discussion about the film and how it relates to human trafficking.
Click here to RSVP. If you have questions, send an email to cfss@dpi.nc.gov.
 Center for Safer Schools Executive Director Karen W. Fairley makes a presentation during the North Carolina School Boards Association Annual Conference in Greensboro on Nov. 13. (CFSS photo)
Center for Safer Schools Executive Director Karen W. Fairley on Monday, Nov. 13 gave an update on school safety legislative requirements during the North Carolina School Boards Association Annual Conference in Greensboro.
Fairley briefed members on new legislation such as House Bill 605 and House Bill 142, along with existing legislation such as those governing School Risk Management Plans and fire drills.
Fairley said initiatives spurred by the new legislation – including threat assessment teams and peer-to-peer counseling – will help school personnel identify students who need assistance.
“Who knows children better than other children,” she said. “We feel like it’s important for children to support each other.”
 Center for Safer Schools Executive Director Karen W. Fairley stands with participants of the Principal Preparation for Excellence and Equity in Rural Schools program at UNC-Greensboro on Nov. 9. (Submitted photo)
Center for Safer Schools Executive Director Karen W. Fairley on Thursday, Nov. 9 spoke to participants of the Principal Preparation for Excellence and Equity in Rural Schools program at UNC-Greensboro.
Fairley explained the role of the CFSS to the group, which is composed of principal interns, including current assistant principals. Her presentation included discussion on the 16 reportable criminal offenses, mental health, school climate and school resource officers.
Sandy Hook Promise will celebrate 35 years of students taking action during the 2024 SAVE Promise Club Youth Summit in Charlotte. The event will be held Saturday, April 20 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at West Charlotte High School, 2219 Senior Drive.
The annual gathering of SAVE Promise Club youth leaders showcases best practices in preventing violence and helping young people feel connected, and make schools and communities safer with youth-led workshops, peer-to-peer presentations, group activities and special guest speakers.
The Youth Summit is a time for youth voices to be heard in workshops and activities that encourage, educate, engage and empower youth with violence prevention strategies.
Click here for more information. Click here to register.
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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.
Talking to Children After a Traumatic Event
- Provide children with opportunities to talk about what they are seeing on television and to ask questions.
- Answer questions at a level the child can understand.
- Provide ongoing opportunities for children to talk. They probably will have more questions as time goes on.
- Use this as an opportunity to establish a family emergency plan. Feeling that there is something you can do might be comforting to both children and adults.
- To the extent possible, be present when your child is watching news coverage of the event. It is at these times that questions might arise.
Source: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
The Center for Safer Schools announces dates for School Risk Management Plan training during the 2024 spring semester.
In-person sessions at the Training Center in Moore County will be held from 10 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Jan. 10; Wednesday, Feb. 7; Wednesday, March 6; and Thursday, April 4.
Online sessions via Webex will be held from 2-4 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 9; Tuesday, Feb. 6; Tuesday, March 5; and Wednesday, April 3.
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.
The Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency Region 9 (Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands and Guam) invites law enforcement and school staff to join a four-hour Understanding and Planning for School Bombing Incidents course hosted by New Mexico Tech via Zoom. The session will be held Thursday, Dec. 14 from 8 a.m. to noon.
The UPSBI course is designed to provide emergency first responders and school staff with the skills to plan and respond to school bomb threats and bombing incidents through lectures and exercises. Participants are presented with information necessary to recognize and assess threats to determine school response actions, evacuation and shelter-in-place considerations.
Click here to register.
Center for Safer Schools Executive Director Karen W. Fairley will resume her tours of North Carolina school districts and charter schools from mid-January to mid-May. She would like to see anything public-school units want to showcase regarding school safety. For school districts, this includes 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 Risk Management Plan Training
(Registration is free)
- Tuesday, Jan. 9; 2-4 p.m.: Register
- Wednesday, Jan. 10; 10 a.m.-noon; 3600 Samarcand Road, Jackson Springs: Register
- Tuesday, Feb. 6; 2-4 p.m.: Register
- Wednesday, Feb. 7; 10 a.m.-noon; 3600 Samarcand Road, Jackson Springs: Register
- Tuesday, March 5; 2-4 p.m.: Register
- Wednesday, March 6; 10 a.m.-noon; 3600 Samarcand Road, Jackson Springs: Register
- Wednesday, April 3; 2-4 p.m.: Register
- Thursday, April 4; 10 a.m.-noon; 3600 Samarcand Road, Jackson Springs: Register
‘Choices’ Screening
(Registration is free)
Thursday, Jan. 25; 6-7:30 p.m.: Register
- Minitorium, 175 Bingham Road, Asheville
- Bowman Middle School Auditorium, 410 S. Mitchell Ave., Bakersville
- West Cabarrus High School, 4100 Weddington Road, Concord
- Morehead High School, 134 N. Pierce St., Eden
- Room 150, Education Building, 301 N. Wilmington St., Raleigh
- Turlington School Auditorium, 116 W. Prospect Ave., Raeford
- Odell Williamson Auditorium, Brunswick Community College, 50 College Road NW, Bolivia
- Northampton County High School, 152 Hurricane Drive, Gaston
Understanding and Planning for School Bombing Incidents
(Registration is free)
- Thursday, Dec. 14; 8 a.m.-noon: 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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