Waco, Texas - In response to increased demand and recent legislation, Education Service Center (ESC) Region 12 has seen an increase in the demand for school safety training. In past years, ESC Region 12 has offered two to three school safety sessions per year at ESC Region 12 and collaborates with the Texas School Safety Center regularly.
 
Rising threats in school-wide safety present a need for establishing response procedures and providing immediate care to victims of violence. The 86th Legislature passed new laws requiring schools to proactively equip staff and students with the training, supplies and procedures necessary to maintain safety during threatening situations. Senate Bill 11 mandates school boards to establish campus threat-assessment teams, train employees in school safety and provide students access to psychiatric and/or mental health professionals. House Bills 2195 and 496 require schools to establish emergency response policies and provide bleeding-control stations. All three new laws seek to guide schools as they prepare for a greater level of student and staff safety.  
 
ESC Region 12 will host The Texas School Safety Center’s School Threat Assessment Training from 8:30-4:30 p.m., tomorrow, Aug. 22 for school personnel and professionals in school security, law enforcement and mental health. The free training will cover how to address threats, guard against dangerous behaviors and take preventive steps toward student safety. More than 150 are expected to attend and registration is closed.
 
In addition, the ESC has provided similar training and/or mental health support training for educators in Copperas Cove, Evant, Whitney, Rapoport, Killeen, Blooming Grove, and Rapoport Public Academy, training nearly 1,000 educators this month. The Center will also offer Digital Citizenship and Social Media Responsibility training sessions to parents and students in Teague (Aug. 20-21) and in Mart (Aug. 27).
 
For schools interested in scheduling training or viewing sessions related to school safety, digital citizenship and mental health support, visit www.esc12.net/page/training or https://txr12.escworks.net/search.aspx?SearchCriteria=counselor

Note to Media: Mid-morning is best for an interview with the speaker and/or attendees.