The shootings at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida remind us once again of the critical importance of preparation and training to prevent these kinds of tragedies if at all possible, and to respond effectively if an incident does occur.
We have received many school safety-related inquiries since the Parkland shootings, as Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) houses the Virginia Center for School and Campus Safety. While Virginia is recognized as a leader among the states in its school safety laws and programs, it is essential that our own school administrators and law enforcement leaders be fully informed as well.
To that end, we have scheduled a series of two-hour meetings, each in a different area of the Commonwealth, for staff from the Center to brief participants on their work, including the training, technical assistance, funding and other resources available. Each session will also be structured to allow time for questions and answers.
It may be the case that you are already aware of some aspect of the Virginia Center for School and Campus Safety’s work but perhaps not the full scope of its services and resources. These meetings will provide you a useful overview of all of the Center’s programs and let you know how to get more information if desired. We hope you are available to attend this valuable meeting.
The meeting will be held from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm.