maine capitol

Maine Takes Steps To Establish School Safety Center

The state Department of Education hired two employees to focus on plans for a statewide policy-focused safety center, an idea lawmakers have pushed for years.

At a legislative committee hearing on Wednesday, the Maine Department of Education announced that it is taking new steps to establish a school safety center -- a project that is nearly six years in the making.

Safe Havens International, a campus safety consulting company, recommended that the department create a center in a 2013 report evaluating security issues at a sample of Maine schools, The Portland Press Herald reported. Some lawmakers criticized the DOE for not moving forward with the recommendation at the time.

Now, the department has hired two new employees to focus on school safety and security. Those employees -- a former school resource officer and retired state police sergeant -- will prepare a report on the specifics of the center, which legislators envision as a hub for security guidelines meant to help schools across the state improve their safety policies. ‘’

That report should be presented to the state legislature by Feb. 15, according to Chelsey Fortin-Trimble, the director of policy and government affairs for the department.

“The two people that were hired we hired specifically for their expertise and their experience in the field,” Fortin-Trimble said, according to the Press Herald. “Our priority is for those two gentlemen to focus solely on that report.”

Conservative legislators have criticized their Democratic colleagues for focusing too much on passing new gun control policies and not enough on fortifying school buildings and other security solutions, according to the Press Herald.

Rep. Patrick Corey, a Republican who sponsored a resolution last year to press for a safety center, told the newspaper that the benefits of creating such a hub could go beyond protecting students and staff from a mass shooting. The center could be helpful in issuing policies to handle bullying and domestic violence affecting students, Corey said.

“I think it pays off in a lot of other ways beyond the whole firearms thing,” Corey said.

About the Author

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

Featured

  • Black Hills State University Takes an Open, Scalable Approach to Video Security

    Black Hills State University recognized the need for a centralized video system to improve campus security and streamline operations. The university sought a solution that could unify its main campus with a satellite location, enable cross-department access, and scale with future growth. By implementing open platform video technology, BHSU laid the foundation for a comprehensive, flexible, and scalable security infrastructure. Read Now

  • Pennsylvania School Uses Locked, Rolling Security Grille to Control Spectators, Secure Building

    St. Jude School in Mountain Top, Pennsylvania, is a private Catholic elementary school that serves students from Pre-K through grade 8. Recognized as a Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education, St. Jude offers diverse educational programs designed to foster a nurturing and challenging learning environment, and extracurricular activities like sports are an integral part of promoting teamwork, discipline, and physical fitness. Read Now

  • Fire-Rated Glazing Assemblies Modernize Academic and Social Hub

    In spring 2023, the University of Pittsburgh opened the doors to a seven-story west wing addition to Alan Magee Scaife Hall. The medical school building features several updated lecture halls, labs and classrooms. It also includes team-based learning and small group rooms as well as an entire floor dedicated to medical students. This floor is meant for students to congregate, study and build community. Read Now

  • Access Control Trends Continue to Strengthen School Safety Security

    Class period bells have been ringing across campuses for a few months now, but that doesn’t mean the subject of safety was fully settled before the start of the new school year. As one wise person once said, “It’s a journey, not a destination”. That’s why it remains a leading issue among administrators, faculty, students, and communities. Schools are striving to be at the top of their class when it comes to the ability to control access instantly and securely, monitor suspicious behavior accurately and consistently, and respond to threats immediately and effectively. Ultimately, they aim to provide a reassuring, comfortable, and conducive environment for a rich learning experience. These goals apply whether at a community college in Southern California, a major university in Pennsylvania, or a rural K-12 district in Michigan. Read Now