Securing Our Schools

ALBANY, N.Y. (Aug. 20, 2019) — The School of Education and College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity, responding to increases in violence on school and college campuses across the nation, this past Monday and Tuesday hosted the inaugural School Preparedness and Safety Summit.

The no-cost, two-day interactive workshop provided opportunities for those with a vested interest in protecting children and young adults to gain hands-on experience with emergency preparation, response and recovery. New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli was on hand Tuesday to give the keynote speech for the conference.

About 150 people, including community leaders, first responders, school personnel, medical, mental and public health professionals, social workers, parents/guardians and students were in attendance for the standing room only event. All felt deep concern over the fact that, since 2000, the Center for Homeland Security and Defense reports 670 incidents of shootings at K-12 schools, resulting in 330 deaths and 631 injuries.

A wide variety of community-based organizations partnered with UAlbany, a national leader in the area of emergency preparedness and safety in institutions of education. Co-sponsors included Cisco, United University Professions, The American Red Cross, CLPS Consultants, Utica National Insurance Group, Stanley Security, Day Automation and Capital Region BOCES.

Topics covered were:

• Cybersecurity and technology
• Decision making during a crisis
• Protecting places of learning• Ps
• Pychological first-aid and recovery post crisis
• “Stop the Bleed” training
• Special needs students during a crisis

Photos by Patrick Dodson
Photos of Comptroller DiNapoli by Andrew Hill

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