Keeping students safe at school is a district’s top priority. And as a new school year is now on the horizon, it’s important that school leaders familiarize themselves with the tools available through the Governor’s School Safety Initiative.
By prioritizing school safety training and implementing a robust safety program, your school can demonstrate its commitment to the well-being of students and staff. Taking these proactive safety measures will help ensure that our schools and communities are in the best position to prepare and respond to an active event.
The safety initiatives have been implemented by the Department of Education, Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management and the Governor’s School Safety Bureau within the Department of Public Safety.
Schedule an active-shooter training
The Governor’s School Safety Bureau’s mission is to make sure schools are prepared and have the necessary training should an emergency like an active-shooter event occur. These training opportunities, which include CRASE, Stop the Bleed and Civilian Response and Critical Care, address how to respond to various emergency situations. While there is no cost for schools to participate, please note that there are some class size restrictions. You can find more information and request a training to be held at your school on the ALERRT Training Request Form for Educators.
Critical Incident Mapping
A total of 1,234 public and 171 nonpublic schools are participating in the critical incident mapping project. The project includes the creation of detailed Geographic Information Systems (GIS) maps of schools, including indoors and mapping software for use during school emergency incidents in and around schools.
Critical incident mapping empowers schools and emergency responders to visualize emergency incidents and other critical information on top of newly developed digital school maps to aid in decreasing response times to school emergencies.
Learn about Safe+Sound Iowa
An anonymous school-threat reporting system, Safe+Sound Iowa, is free to use and can be implemented in schools with ease. The program is monitored 24/7 by the School Safety Bureau. The program clearly filled a need: Sixty school safety reports from across the state have been received since it launched on March 21. The information contained in those tips was shared with school and local law enforcement, ensuring quick and decisive action.
The Safe+Sound Iowa program is available to students, school staff, parents and community members to help identify and provide intervention for students in crisis before they hurt themselves or others. Reports of safety concerns can be made securely and anonymously three ways:
- Downloading and using the free Safe+Sound Iowa app
- Going to SafeandSoundIowa.gov, or
- Calling 800-224-6018
Are your needs being met? Let us know
Safe+Sound Iowa is conducting a short survey to ensure it is producing and delivering marketing materials that will assist schools in promoting the program to their stakeholders. This survey will only take 5 minutes or less of your time.
See you at the fair!
To highlight and promote the Safe+Sound program, the Governor’s School Safety Bureau will have a booth inside the Varied Industries building during the Iowa State Fair. Stop by the booth to learn more about the programs and hear how your school can benefit from these initiatives.
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