Homeland Security Coordinator
Speaks to Private School Board on Safe Schools
JEFFERSON CITY, June 5, 2007-Homeland Security Coordinator
Paul Fennewald met with approximately 20 members of the Missouri Nonpublic
School Accrediting Association during their annual meeting today to
discuss school safety.
“School officials at all levels need to be actively
engaged in homeland security planning ensuring emergency preparedness
does not stop at the school doors. Fennewald said. “I commend
this board for taking the time to hear about Missouri’s school
safety initiatives.”
Fennewald stressed consistency in school emergency preparedness
across the state and discussed an Internet-based tool called the Emergency
Response Information Program (ERIP) purchased by the Governor’s
Homeland Security Advisory Council using federal homeland security grant
money. This program assists schools, colleges, universities and licensed
child care facilities in planning and training for an emergency.
The Missouri Center for Safe Schools, Missouri School
Board Association, National
Education Association, Missouri School Nurses’ Association and
the Missouri Departments
of Public Safety, Health and Senior Services and Elementary and Secondary
Education
are a few groups who have endorsed the ERIP tool to help provide a safe
school environment.
Last October, Gov. Blunt enhanced his Homeland Security
Advisory Council by adding
an education representative to the state’s Regional Homeland Security
Oversight Committees which Fennewald serves as the committee chair.
In April, The governor announced a new Campus Security Task Force to
examine the safety and security at Missouri's higher education institutions
and to help ensure a more powerful partnership between school administrators
and the public safety community.