Winter 2022 Newsletter

2022 Emergency Management Tests are due no later than Dec. 31

Reminder: The deadline is quickly approaching for the annual Emergency Management Test (EMT). Each school building is required to conduct at least one EMT - functional, full-scale, or tabletop- annually to assess and evaluate their emergency preparedness (Ohio Revised Code 5502.262 (E)(1)[2] and Ohio Administrative Code 4501: 5-1-01). 

Please remember that schools must complete a functional, full-scale, and tabletop exercise during the three-year period between resubmission of an annual emergency management plan. Each type of test can only be used once.

Sample tabletop exercise tool kits are available on the Ohio School Safety Center Website. 

After completion, don't forget to document the test and after-action report in OH|ID. Step-by-step instructions for submitting your after-action report can be found here. 

Threat Assessment Deadlines Approaching

Each local, city, exempted village, and joint vocational school district serving grades 6 - 12 must have a threat assessment team created by March 24, 2023. 

Members who are appointed to the threat assessment team must complete an approved training program listed on the OSSC website, and every three years after that. If training was completed in the year prior to appointment, training is not required to be completed for two years after.

Once training is completed, the certificates must be uploaded with the building's emergency management plan for each member of the team.

Behavioral Threat Assessment Model Policy

The OSSC has released a model behavioral threat assessment policy as a resource for schools to adopt or adapt for their own use. Please click below to access the model policy. Additionally, a sample form and checklist are available upon request by emailing ohioschoolsafetycenter@dps.ohio.gov.

New Grant Opportunity for Clean Energy Upgrades

The U.S. Department of Energy recently announced first-of-its-kind investments to make clean energy improvements at K-12 public schools. Funds will position school districts to make upgrades that will lower facilities’ energy costs and foster healthier learning environments for students. 

Schools can now apply for the first round of the Renew America's Schools grant, up to $80 million of the $500 million program, to make energy improvements especially in the highest-need districts across the country. The Energy Champions Leading the Advancement of Sustainable Schools Prize (Energy CLASS Prize) program is also accepting applications for up to 25 local education agencies to receive $100,000 to staff and train select administration and facilities personnel as energy managers.

Eligible Use:

Energy efficiency (envelope, HVAC, lighting, controls, etc.), ventilation, renewable energy, alternative vehicles, and alternative fuel vehicle infrastructure improvements.

Review the grant and how to apply

Deadlines:

• Jan. 26, 2023 for Renew America’s Schools grant concept papers.
• April 21, 2023 full applications are due.

Mental Health Service Professional Grant Program

The U.S. Department of Education issued a notice inviting applications for fiscal year (FY) 2023 for the Mental Health Service Professional (MHSP) Demonstration Grant Program. The MHSP Program provides competitive grants to support and demonstrate innovative partnerships to train school-based mental health service providers for employment in schools and local educational agencies. Under this program, the Department estimates making 150-250 awards, ranging from $400,000 to $1,200,000, for each 12-month budget period for up to 5 years. Learn more here. 

Ohio Student Safety Advisory Council Encouraging Speaking Up

The Ohio Student Safety Advisory Council is working to develop strategies to encourage their peers to engage in creating safer school environments. With that goal in mind, they initiated the #WhyISpeakUp campaign.

Student council members gave their peers and school administrators speech bubble printouts to express why they should speak up if they see something suspicious or notice a fellow student in trouble. They report that the campaign has been met with much enthusiasm! If you would like to participate in the campaign, download the speech bubble here. Please send pictures and items for social media from your own campaigns to ohioschoolsafetycenter@dps.ohio.gov.

The council will continue with projects throughout the year focusing on mental health, bus safety, and physical safety. 

New School Safety Plan Application for 2023!

A new School Safety Plan application is coming in 2023. The updated application will allow for one emergency management plan to be submitted for all co-located programs that share a building. Some of the other fixes will include set due dates every three years for emergency management plan certification.

This application will still be in OH|ID and will not require anything from the user except downloading the new application in OH|ID. More details are forthcoming!