PRESS RELEASE: FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION

(July 22, 2014 – Medina, Ohio).

Massachusetts Governor, Deval Patrick, released the recommendations of his Massachusetts Task Force on School Safety and Security.  The recommendations specifically include ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, and Evacuate) as appropriate training for school safety. The complete report can be downloaded at www.mass.gov/edu.

The task force partnered with stakeholders and leading school safety experts in authoring the report.  Participants in the task force included:  the Secretary of Education, Health and Human Services, Public Safety, the Massachusetts State Police, the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents, the Massachusetts Teachers Association, and the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association, among others.

The task force’s recommendations move beyond the lockdown only strategies of yesterday. The report advocates civilian training, especially for teachers and staff. The report also recognizes the need for training for situational response and the empowerment of individuals to make life saving decisions.

ALICE is already endorsed by law enforcement across the country and in line with recommendations from the Federal Department of Education, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Greg Crane, president and founder of the ALICE program commented, “This is a strong step forward for school safety in Massachusetts, recognizing that a proactive, options-based approach is better suited for saving lives. Lieutenant Scott Sencabaugh (NEMLEC STARS Commander) and Detective/SRO Chip Yeaton (President of the Massachusetts Juvenile Police Officers Association) have been instrumental in school safety protocols in the state of Massachusetts.” ALICE Training has already been brought to 130 K-12 school districts and 150 law enforcement agencies across the state of Massachusetts.

ALICE Training is changing how schools, universities and businesses respond to armed intruders.  ALICE (Alert, Lock-down, Inform, Counter, and Evacuate), developed after Columbine, teaches strategies to survive a life-threatening event.  Supported by educators and law enforcement organizations, ALICE is quickly becoming the new standard of care across the nation.

Additionally, the Governor’s Report included recommendations for a communication system which allows teachers, school administrators, and students to communicate in an emergency situation. ELERTS, our partner in safety, is meeting these communications needs on campuses across the country. Learn more about how the Governor’s recommendations emphasize a need for communication here.

For More Information Contact:

Name:                 Victoria Shaw

Email:                  [email protected]

URL:                     www.alicetraining.com

 

Download this press release: 3121 Press Release MA School Safety Task Force.

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