Educators Summit Addresses School Safety In Middlesex County

MIDDLESEX COUNTY, NJ — An Educators’ Summit to address school safety was held on Wednesday in Middlesex County.

The summit, which addressed school safety and student wellness for the 2022 school year, was held in partnership with the Educational Services Commission of New Jersey (ESCNJ), and the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office.

“School safety is an issue of vital concern – not only for the students, teachers, and administrators who are on the front lines – but for all of us,” said Board of County Commissioners Director Ronald G. Rios. “As the saying goes, ‘hurt people hurt people,’ and students who are suffering – whether from mental health conditions or illnesses, trauma from the pandemic, or the day-to-day stress of childhood and adolescence – are no exception.”

During the summit, three panels of speakers discussed their expertise and potential approaches in preparing schools for emergency management, school drills, and cybersecurity across the County.

Rios said the panels gave officials the opportunity to delve deeply into key aspects of school safety.

“This summit was another step to enlarge the communication between the educational community and law enforcement,” Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone said in a statement.

“In turn, all of the Middlesex County community will benefit because of a safe and secure environment created in all our educational institutions.”

In December last year, schools in New Jersey reported at least 11 threats and two incidents of students bringing guns to school.

Superintendent Mark Finkelstein of the Educational Services Commission of New Jersey said that a survey conducted among Middlesex County school leaders identified three leading topics concerning the community — cultural climate in schools, the value of school resource officers and effective communication; and emergency management plans in schools.

“This esteemed group of panelists joining us for this event bring years of expertise and a wealth of knowledge to discuss the concerns of our school administrators, educators, and students here in Middlesex County, around the state, and across the nation,” said Finkelstein.

County Commissioner Chanelle Scott McCullum pointed out that close collaboration between educators and law enforcement was “a vital part of our work to make our schools safe.”

"Providing and maintaining a safe school environment is imperative, and this ongoing partnership allows us to leverage the expertise of both law enforcement and educators for the benefit of the students, faculty, and staff who fill our schools daily,” McCullum said.

“I am proud that Middlesex County has partnered with ESCNJ to address issues like school violence head-on. We may not have the answers yet, but by working together I am confident that we will find them.”