School Safety Seminar Goes on the Road in Indiana

Indiana Insurance, a Liberty Mutual Agency Markets regional company, recently announced that it will present its Safer Schools Seminars in Indiana during the month of September.

According to Indiana Insurance, the free, half-day seminar is especially created for school superintendents, principals, resource officers, and risk managers. The focus of the seminars to teach educators how to improve security, prevent educator sexual misconduct, and create safer learning environments. The Safer Schools Seminars run from 9 a.m. to 12 noon with registration and continental breakfast at 8:30 am at the following venues:

Monday, Sept. 22 (1:30 pm to 4:30 pm), Radisson Hotel at Star Plaza, Merrillville;
Tuesday, Sept. 23, South Bend Marriott, South Bend;
Wednesday, Sept. 24, Fort Wayne Marriott, Ft. Wayne;
Thursday, Sept. 25, Hilton Indianapolis North Indianapolis; and,
Friday, Sept. 26, Evansville Marriott, Evansville..

Attendees can register for any of the seminars by calling 317-581-6500 or by sending an e-mail to Margie.Owens@indiana-ins.com or go to www.indiana-ins.com/seminars.

School violence and cases of educator sexual misconduct are crimes that are at the forefront of concern for educators, law enforcement, parents, and students, the insurer said in its statment. The Safer Schools Seminars’ presentations will provide attendees with information to lessen the risk of these crimes occurring on school grounds.

“The information we’re presenting will help school districts gauge their current preparedness and procedures,” said Yolanda Washington, Safer Schools specialist, Indiana Insurance. “There’s a lot more to prevention than simply complying with laws and regulations. A lot can be done to improve safety and security at very little or no cost. An effective safety strategy starts with strong policies and an attentive, well-trained staff that regularly enforces those policies and tests its procedures.”

Washington will address Crime Prevention through Environmental Design, which encompasses natural surveillance, territorial reinforcement, access and visitor controls, security cameras, weapons of opportunity, and transportation security. Another presentation will examine sexual harassment in schools, abuser and victim profiles, and how to develop and implement an effective sexual harassment policy.

Michael McCarty, president of Danville, Indiana-based Safe Hiring Solutions, will present on effective employment applicant screening.

“It should come as no surprise that those who would hurt children seek positions where they have access to children,” said McCarty. “Many school districts rely on limited criminal database checks. They aren’t aware that in the U. S. we still have a fractured system where up-to-date criminal histories are not available in one central place. What we provide is a multi-layered, comprehensive approach to background screening.”

Safe Hiring Solutions is a member of Indiana Insurance’s Safety Advantage Network, which supplements its school loss prevention services by providing access to specialized resources in violence and abuse prevention, as well as more common day-to-day school concerns such as playground and bleacher safety, shop equipment hazards, and medical or facility emergencies.

Indiana Insurance’s Safer Schools specialists consult with school districts on loss prevention and risk mitigation, addressing the most common school hazards through:
Multi-Hazard Site Assessments;
Safer School Inspection Training;
Playground Safety Inspection & Training;
Science Lab Safety and Chemical Storage Assessments;
Vocational Shop Machine Safeguarding Assessments;
Risk Assessments of Athletic Facilities and Equipment and Kitchens and Food Service; and,
Decision Driving for Professional School Bus Drivers.

To learn more about the coverages and services available from Indiana Insurance’s Schools Program, go to www.mysaferschool.com/indiana-ins.

Source: Indiana Insurance