School Safety
Last Updated 4/5/24
Nebraska School Safety & Security Newsletter (April 2024)
The newsletter includes...
- Webinar series on Suicide Prevention with expert, Anne Moss
- Digital Parenting
- EOP on-line learning using Canvas
- School Safety & Security Related Infrastructure Grant update
- Updates on future trainings...and more! (updates have been made to the 23-24 Trainings document below)
2024 Fall Nebraska School Safety and Security Summit
The Nebraska Council of School Administrators, in partnership with the Nebraska Department of Education, University of Nebraska Public Policy Center, and BoysTown will hold the 7th Annual Nebraska School Safety and Security Summit October 17, 2024, with a focus on Response. Look for registration to open in late-summer 2024.
Lodging Information
Fairfield Inn - Kearney
Call (308) 236-4200
Mention: Safety Summit 2024
Rate: $134.95 + tax
Policies, Plans, Requirements, Trainings, & Best Practices
NDE 2023-2024 TRAININGS
CLICK ON THE FLYER BELOW FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF 2023-2024 NDE SAFETY & SECURITY TRAININGS.
Suicide Prevention Webinar Series: Tools for Proactive Support for Schools After a Suicide
RECORDED WEBINARS WILL BE POSTED ON NDE'S SAFETY AND SECURITY WEBSITE SOON!
LB 705 Suicide Prevention
Updated in LB705 State Statute 79-2, 145-146
Required Training: 23-24 Approved Training Options
- “Beginning in school year 2023-24, all public school employees who interact with students and any other appropriate personnel, as determined by the school superintendent, shall receive at least one hour of behavioral and mental health training with a focus on suicide awareness and prevention training each year. ○ Such training may include, but need not be limited to, topics such as identification of early warning signs and symptoms of behavioral and mental health issues in students, appropriate and effective responses for educators to student behavioral and mental health issues, trauma-informed care, and procedures for making students and parents and guardians aware of services and supports for behavioral and mental health issues. ○ This training shall be provided within the framework of existing inservice training programs offered by the State Department of Education or as part of required professional development activities.”
- Resource Links:
- Your Language Matters
- Teen Suicide Prevention Video for School Personnel
- Nebraska School Suicide Resource Guide
- Handbook for Developing School Suicide Policies and Procedures
- Nebraska Suicide Awareness/Prevention Approved Training for School Personnel
- Suicide Prevention Mini Grant Information - Hazelden Lifelines: Prevention; Building Knowledge & Skills to Prevent Suicide
- Help for Parents: Dealing with Suicide Concerns
- Suicide Risk Screening
- Why Consider the SBQ-R?
- SBQ-R Administration & Scoring Guide (available through NDE)
- Checklist for Developing Re-Entry Procedures
Nebraska School Safety
The NDE School Safety Team is organized to provide leadership and support to all schools in Nebraska. The safety team has established safety and security standards that focus on prevention, response, and recovery that also meet the requirements of Nebraska State Statutes and Rule 10 requirements. The Nebraska Annual Safety Requirements for Schools document is a helpful resource as well as the Safety and Security Standards Technical Assistance Guide. These documents are not an Emergency Operation Plan (EOP) but can be utilized when district teams are building or reviewing EOPs.
EOP Plans
EOP Plans
An Emergency Operation Plan (EOP) is a comprehensive plan for addressing prevention, preparedness, response and recovery in order to minimize the impact of any hazard, threat, or incident to the safety and security of students, staff, visitors, school buildings and property.
Rule 10: What’s Required?
- 011.01B - The school system has an EOP plan and is approved by the district's school board
- 011.01C - The school must have a safety committee that includes faculty, parents, and the community. The committee meets at least annually to prepare and review EOP plans.
- 011.01D - School system's safety and security plan(s) are reviewed annually by one or more persons not employed by the school system or on the school’s safety committee. The review includes a visit to the school to analyze plans, policies and procedures, and practices and recommendations. Any recommendations made are forwarded to the administrator and to the school safety committee to consider and review.
Nebraska State Statute (#79-2,144) requires the NDE School Safety director to collect schools' EOPs for review. The director identifies deficiencies in minimum standards and makes recommendations to school boards to remedy.
The following links may be helpful in order to develop an efficient EOP plan:
- NDE Safety & Security Website: Developing an Emergency Operations Plan
- Guide for Developing High-Quality School Emergency Operations Plans
- Developing and Maintaining Emergency Operations Plans
- Protecting America's Schools: A U.S. Secret Service Analysis of Targeted School Violence
- National Prevention Framework (Homeland Security)
- Standard Response Protocols and Standard Reunification Method (I Love You Guys Foundation)
- Psychological First Aid for Schools Field Operations Guide
- A Framework for Safe and Successful Schools
Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) Submissions
For any questions: contact Jay Martin at jay.martin@nebraska.gov
Steps to Submit Your School's EOPs
1. Submit plans in a PDF format using this link: https://nde.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cRTwJRjjqsGBi3Y
2. Select your district or school from the drop-down menu list. ONLY if your district or school is NOT listed in the drop-down menu will you write in the requested information.
3. When submitting, identify two people as a primary and secondary contact person at your district.
NDE School Safety YouTube Channel
Safe 2 Help
Safe 2 Help Tool Free Number 833-980-7233
Safe2HelpNE anonymous report line services will now be permanently funded per LB705. Even if a school is using another report line service, schools can add this service in as well. Safe2HelpNE has trained crisis counselors from the Boys Town call center available to receive calls 24 hours a day 7 days a week to change the path of potential incidents in schools. The crisis counselors will relay reports in real time to a school's Threat Assessment Team. Eighty percent of calls do not involve law enforcement and avoid tying up police resources when it is unwarranted. If a school would like to participate in Safe2HelpNE register your team at: https://nde.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_aaQY6E9bkjZggui.
Click on the flyer for more information or visit Safe2Help FAQ
Safe2HelpNE marketing and informational videos are now available to educate staff, parents, and students in the anonymous report line service: NDE School Safety Channel