The Windsor Central School District held its 18th annual Safety Night Thursday. Members of local fire departments, New York State Police, and the Broome County Sheriff’s Office joined teachers, staff, and students to be better prepared in case of emergency.
“It’s about making connections with first responders, our teachers, our staff, and our students. There are daily safety concerns, so knowing how to deal with all types of safety concerns is important,” said Chris Klumpp, Windsor Central High School Director of Athletics, Health, and
Safety.
The group prepared for safety, medical, fire, mental health, and facilities emergencies, applying the district’s safety plan for each, and testing that plan’s effectiveness.
“We want to make sure that we bring everybody together so that when a response is required, everyone knows what their role is,” Timothy Neumuth, NYS Police Trooper, School Community Outreach Coordinator. “The importance of this event is at least a nine (on a scale of 10). You can still do it without knowing all those people, but if you know the names and faces, it makes it a lot easier. The more you get to know those people, the more you know their skills, the more you know what they’re capable of and that’s the key in a stressful situation. Without this forum, we’re not going to get that”
“There’s not a year that has gone by when we haven’t implemented some change because of what we learn here. We hear a perspective we haven’t heard before,” said Dr. Jason Andrews, Superintendent of the Windsor CSD.
Among the safety upgrades over the past year in the district is the expansion of the Vigilon camera system. There are now 204 cameras up and running in the five district buildings.
Staff have also continued their training in Trauma Informed Skills for Educators (TISE) and Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools (CBITS), thanks to the STOP School Violence Grant. The grant is also funding universal social-emotional learning programs to try to assist students before they become safety risks.
Windsor Central High School students brought their perspective the district’s approach to safety during the event.
“We want to have an understanding of how exactly the adults who would be in charge of us know what their duties are so we can support them and guide other students in the right general direction,” said WCHS senior Cameron Wallace.