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  For education specific questions and updates, please visit the Ohio Department of Education’s FAQ page here.
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Due to the global COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic, the Ohio School Safety Center has made the difficult but necessary decision to cancel this year’s Ohio School Safety Summit, scheduled for June 10-12, at the Greater Columbus Convention Center.
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Annual Emergency Management Plan Certification
This is just a reminder that your school's annual emergency management plan certification is due July 1. Log in now to update your school’s contact information and certify your plan is up-to-date. For a step-by-step guide to completion, click here.
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Emergency Management Tests, Drills & Rapid Dismissals
Annual emergency management tests are not due until December 31, 2020. If you have already completed your drill, don't forgot to log in and complete your after action report. If you have concerns about completing your test on time, please contact your assigned planner or the OSSC at saferschools.ohio.gov.
For questions regarding drills or rapid dismissals, please contact your local code enforcement or the Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of the State Fire Marshal, Code Enforcement Bureau; call 614-728-5460; or send an email to websfm@com.state.oh.us
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School Resource Officers Finding New Ways to Stay Connected While Apart
Normally when you see Lakota’s school resource officers (SROs), they are high-fiving students in the hallways and cheering them on during extracurricular activities and sports. These days, their roles are a little different due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
On March 12, 2020, Ohio’s public, community and private K-12 school buildings were ordered to be closed to students due to the ongoing coronavirus health crisis. Lakota Local Schools immediately implemented their meal distribution program to ensure that students were still able to receive meals even if they couldn’t physically be in the school buildings. Lakota was able to put this program into action quickly as they already distribute meals during the summer break.
Lakota’s school resource officers from the Butler County Sheriff's Office eagerly stepped up and started helping pack and deliver meals to neighborhoods of the students they normally serve. It was important for the school resource officers to be able to still see the students that they have built such strong relationships with and more importantly, they just wanted to know they were ok. When delivering meals three days a week, the SROs get the opportunity to visit with students while abiding by social distancing guidelines.
Lakota’s SROs come from both the Butler County Sheriff’s Office and the West Chester Police Department. Both agencies have been able to conduct home visits to check in on their students and provide support during this difficult time. The team continues to support the school community through taking part in weekly encouragement videos and even assisted with the end of May graduation events. These SROs have really become part of the Lakota family and are missing their students just as much as the staff and educators.
To find out more about Lakota’s programs visit their website or contact Lakota’s Director of School and Community Relations, Betsy Fuller.
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K-12 Suicide Prevention Training
The Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation (OSPF) offers an evidence-based virtual suicide prevention training for K-12 staff and educators.
OSPF has waived the application process to make it easier for schools to use.
To access the training click here. Create your account with enrollment key: ospfstaff
Handle With Care
The program ensures children who are exposed to adverse events receive appropriate interventions and have opportunities to build resilience through positive relationships with teachers and first responders.
Find out more about this exciting new program by visiting the Ohio HWC website.
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Question Persuade Refer (QPR) Virtual Training
The OSSC and Ohio Mental Health and Addiction Services (OMHAS) are proud to offer virtual QPR training to Ohio's schools and first responders.
This training teaches you three steps anyone can learn to help prevent suicide.
Click on the dates below to register:
- June 17, 1-3 P.M.
- July 14, 10 A.M. - 12 P.M.
- August 6, 1-3 P.M.
To find more events, visit the OSSC Events Calendar
Virtual Meeting Tips
For tips & recommendations on using video conferencing tools and online meeting platforms safely, visit the OSSC Cyber Safety Web Page.
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New Tabletop Exercise Toolkit
The Ohio Emergency Management Agency, in cooperation with the Ohio School Safety Center within Ohio Homeland Security, announced today that a new K-12 School Severe Weather Tabletop Exercise Toolkit is now available to help primary and secondary school staff, first responders, and other partners prepare for strong winds and tornadic events, such as the devastating tornadoes that struck the Dayton region last year.
The free K-12 School Severe Weather Tabletop Exercise (TTX) Toolkit provides all of the materials and information necessary to easily plan and host a tabletop exercise. To access the toolkit, click here.
Consider conducting a virtual tabletop this summer.
Additional exercise scenarios on active aggressor, infectious disease, and power outages are available on the OSSC website.
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Do you have questions for the OSSC? Are you looking for particular resources? Submit your feedback and questions here.
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