Edmond, OK - Pioneer Technology Center (PTC) representatives attended the 2007 Oklahoma School Security Seminar at the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) in Edmond September 18. The PTC delegation consisted of Arlene Stauffer, instructional director; Michael Orr, facilities director; and Molly Kyler, communications director.

The seminar was sponsored by the Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security, UCO, the Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism (MIPT) and the Oklahoma State Department of Education. The keynote speaker for the session was Kenneth Trump, who is the president of National School Safety and Security Services, a Cleveland-based firm specializing in school safety and emergency preparedness training and consulting. His message focused on risk reduction measures to provide a physically and psychologically secure educational setting.

In addition to the keynote’s message, concurrent seminar sessions were offered to offer specific training for school and safety personnel. Some of the sessions highlighted topics such as risk assessments, funding for security, managing security communication and protocols. According to Stauffer of PTC, “This seminar really brought around the awareness that ‘security’ doesn’t have to mean high tech. We can adjust some of what we already do to make our schools that much safer for our students and staff.”

To conclude the seminar participants experienced an interactive security exercise. The exercise was delivered as a table top activity in which a major incident of school violence was demonstrated by a video presentation. During sections of the presentation, a panel of experts in the areas of communication, school administration, law enforcement and security created a dialogue among the group to explain concerns they might consider in this type of situation. In addition, the panelists discussed how their agencies might work together when confronted with such a crisis.

Ultimately, the conference appeared to provide a great opportunity for school and law enforcement professionals to ask frank questions of each other in order to create and build up on existing partnerships within the community. Educators today are faced with the many challenges of not only teaching, but also keeping their students safe. It grows even more important that they are more proactive when it comes to school safety and security.