DEMA launches new Delaware school safety center

The Delaware Emergency Management Agency is launching a new Delaware School Safety Center, an expansion of its long-standing Comprehensive School Safety Program.

The initiative reflects Delaware’s continued commitment to safe, secure learning environments for all students. The center features a new, user-friendly website at de.gov/demaschoolsafety that will be a central hub for training, resources and coordination where schools and families can access guidance, tools and best practices on school safety planning and response efforts.

“Ensuring a safe learning environment for every Delaware student is a shared priority of the highest importance,” said Joshua Bushweller, secretary of safety and homeland security. “This critical collaboration between first responders, school officials, parents and students – supported by the integration of technology and emergency management expertise – will serve to strengthen our ongoing commitment to school safety.”

“The DSSC represents a collaborative effort to support educators and first responders, and to engage students and parents in building safe and resilient school communities,” said A.J. Shall, DEMA director.

Established in 2012 after the passage of the Omnibus School Safety Act, the CSSP laid the foundation for standardized, comprehensive emergency planning in all public and charter schools across the state. The act established requirements for all schools to maintain safety plans and conduct critical incident training, lockdown drills and tabletop exercises.

The new initiative continues Delaware’s landmark achievements in school safety. Delaware was the first state to provide uniform aerial maps and digitized school blueprint floor plans for all 19 public school districts and charter schools to ensure rapid law enforcement response to school buildings and campuses during emergencies. In 2023, Delaware launched Safe DE, a comprehensive safety and wellness suite that features a 24/7 anonymous reporting application to empower students, staff, and families to report safety concerns and access crisis resources.

The Delaware School Safety Center provides comprehensive training in behavioral threat assessment to school-based teams, equipping them to identify and address potential threats proactively. The center also provides secure case management software to facilitate consistent documentation, collaboration and follow-up throughout the assessment process.

“The Delaware School Safety Center is designed to prevent school-based incidents by preparing the education community to work with community partners to effectively mitigate and manage crises,” said Joey Melvin, DSSC executive director.

“Nothing is more important than student safety, because students learn and teachers are able to teach when they feel safe. Safety doesn’t happen by accident; it happens by design. That’s why the launch of the Delaware School Safety Center matters so much,” said Cindy Marten, secretary of education. “It represents our shared commitment to creating safe and welcoming schools where teachers can teach, and students can thrive. I am grateful for the focused leadership of DEMA and proud that Delaware continues to lead the way in putting students first – always.”

As part of its core mission, the new DSCC also offers additional services to enhance school safety. Officials can provide tools and guidance to help schools plan and safely manage after-school events, extracurricular activities, sports and community gatherings on school grounds. School resource officers and constables can receive the latest law enforcement training, with an emphasis on relationship-building, safety planning and de-escalation. Trained professionals can help schools conduct physical on-site assessments to identify vulnerabilities and offer practical, evidence-based recommendations to improve school security.

To learn more, go to de.gov/demaschoolsafety.