School Safety

- Indiana County is in the process of implementing this program

- Amrstrong County- information has started to go out - Becky Waugaman (EMA) and Chad Gradwell (9-1-1) are interested in participating.

It is a simple program that works like this:

1. When a law enforcement officer answers a call and a child is present, a Handle with Care referral is submitted into a special portal of the Safe2Say Something system, which has been built specifically for this purpose.
2. The officer submits the child’s name and school using an online form designated for police departments (see the form below).
3. The referral is received, and a school administrator is automatically notified that the student was present during a potentially traumatic event and should be handled with care.
4. School staff is asked to be aware of this experience and provide any necessary support for the child without asking about the event.
5. The child’s behavior is carefully observed for signs of trauma, changes in mood, increased agitation or aggression, zoning out, fatigue, or crying. Teachers and staff should respond with trauma-informed practices in caring for the child.

School Leaders,

To address a school safety concern called swatting, the Pennsylvania Department of Education is working collaboratively with our school safety partners at the Pennsylvania State Police, Pennsylvania Criminal Intelligence Center (PaCIC), and the Office of Homeland Security. Swatting is defined as a false report of an ongoing emergency or threat of violence intended to prompt an immediate tactical law enforcement response (PACIC, 2023). These “swatting” incidents present a disruption to the learning environment in our schools and impact the overall educational atmosphere of our communities. Swatting incidents must be managed by law enforcement personnel to ensure a thorough investigation is completed, and so that the safety of students, staff, and our school communities is the top priority.

The Pennsylvania Department of Education encourages all school entities and communities to follow the recommendations of the Pennsylvania State Police and their local law enforcement agencies and continue to adhere to all school safety protocols regarding any potential threat to the safety of students and staff. Each school community is unique, and the law enforcement and school safety response are something specific to that local environment. Therefore, we are presenting some recommendations below that can assist in the response and management of swatting and other school safety related incidents. In addition, we are including additional swatting documentation from the PaCIC. Members of the education community with a role in physical and cyber safety and security are eligible to receive information directly from PaCIC by contacting them at sp-protectpa@pa.gov and requesting to be added to their Critical Infrastructure and Key Resources disseminations.

Recommendations

• Organize routine (every 3-6 month) meetings with your local law enforcement that would respond to swatting incidents at your buildings to foster relationships;
• Identify pre-determined swatting plans and procedures that meet the needs of your local community and ensure the safety of all students, staff, and first responders;
• Consult with state agency partners (Pennsylvania State Police, Office of Homeland Security etc.) to ensure school safety best practices are being used;
• Ensure proper communication of any swatting plan with necessary stakeholders both within the school entity and local community responders; and
• Communicate with the school community and include swatting information with other school safety related correspondence.

The safety of all school communities is an essential component of education. The Pennsylvania Department of Education thanks all school leaders for their efforts to manage these incidents that impact the learning environment. Thank you again for all that you do to support the safety of your students and staff. Do not hesitate to reach out to the Office for Safe Schools with any additional questions.

Scott M Kuren, Ed.D. | Director, Office for Safe Schools

Department of Education | Office of Elementary and Secondary Education

333 Market Street | Harrisburg, PA 17126

P: 717.783.6469

skuren@pa.gov | www.education.pa.gov

November 7, 2023 ~ 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM

February 6, 2024 ~ 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM

May 7, 2024 ~ 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM