Ohio Governor Mike DeWine in 2018

Ohio Governor Signs Executive Order to Create School Safety Center

The center aims to increase the use of an anonymous tipline, review school emergency management plans and host an annual safety summit, among other priorities.

  • By Haley Samsel
  • August 23, 2019

In a move he hopes will decrease violence in schools, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed an executive order Wednesday to create the Ohio School Safety Center.

The new initiative will have a staff of seven people and work within the state’s department of public safety to develop more security resources for schools, staff and students. The center will offer free risk and threat assessments to schools in addition to addressing some of DeWine’s other priorities, including the increased use of a centralized tipline.

“Having one office where the staff solely focuses on keeping our students safe and our schools secure, will allow analysts to nimbly assess threats, proactively address potential issues, and expertly train and support school faculty in a more streamlined manner,” DeWine said in a statement.

According to the governor’s office, the center’s staff will focus on:

  • Promoting and expanding the use of Ohio’s Safer School Helpline, which responds to anonymous reports of school safety concerns and passes those tips to law enforcement
  • Conducting more thorough monitoring of online platforms and social media for threats of school violence
  • Reviewing emergency management plans and providing threat assessment training to schools
  • Hosting an annual summit for public safety and mental health professionals to share best practices and resources with school leaders
  • Consolidating all school safety resources and upcoming training dates on the center’s website

DeWine’s executive order also created the Ohio School Safety Working Group. The group of experts on public safety, education, mental health and emergency management will meet quarterly to discuss current campus security trends and help develop a yearly report on the state of school safety in Ohio.

The governor said that the new center is part of his 17-point plan to reduce gun violence and increase mental health treatment for Ohioans. DeWine released the plan shortly after nine people were killed by a gunman in a Dayton entertainment district earlier this month.

About the Author

Haley Samsel is an Associate Content Editor for the Infrastructure Solutions Group at 1105 Media.

Featured

  • Door Hardware and Campus Security: Enhancing Safety in Schools

    The importance of investing in school safety cannot be overstated, but knowing where to start implementation of school safety features can be a challenge. A recent survey by the National Center on Education Statistics found that a quarter of U.S. public schools have classrooms with doors that can't be locked from the inside. Even among schools with doors that do lock, recent legislation reflects a common misconception that simply keeping the doors locked all day will eliminate the potential for an attack, in direct violation of PASS (Partner Alliance for Safer Schools) Guidelines. Read Now

  • Brigham Young University Strengthens Campus Security With Genetec Operations Center

    Genetec Inc, a provider of enterprise physical security software, announced that Brigham Young University's (BYU) has optimized its security operations with the Genetec™ Operations Center work management system. Read Now

  • AI-based Risk Mitigation: The Next Advancement in Video Surveillance and Public Safety

    Safety is at the forefront of every organization and covers a gamut of scenarios, not just weapon-fueled lethal threats. It also includes smaller-scale and everyday situations like slipping hazards, fallen persons, unauthorized vehicles, and more. These issues cause disruptions in daily operations and cost companies and facilities money and downtime, so a fully realized security plan must involve actions that facility personnel should take once a hazard of any size occurs. Informing everyone that a hazard exists, where it’s located, and what actions to take is imperative for maintaining personal safety. Read Now

  • Fort Worth ISD Strengthens Event Safety

    The issue of concealed weapons being introduced into school extracurricular activities, including sporting events and graduations, became a growing concern in communities across the nation. According to the K-12 School Shooting Database, there were at least 202 incidents of gunfire on school grounds in 2024 across the United States, resulting in 56 deaths and 147 injuries, underscoring the urgent need for enhanced safety protocols. Read Now

Most   Popular