School Safety
Ohio School Safety Center
The Center is responsible for assisting local schools and first responders with preventing, preparing for, and responding to threats and acts of violence, including self-harm, through a holistic, solutions based approach to improving school safety.
Tip Line – Report Concerns for Student Safety: 844-723-3764
The Safer Ohio School Tip Line is a free safety resource available to all Ohio schools. The tip line is an anonymous reporting system that accepts tips via call, text, webform, and mobile app 24 hours-a-day. Anyone can download the Safer Ohio School Tip Line app or use the webform.
OSSC Regional Liaisons/Contacts
Region 6 – Auglaize, Champaign, Mercer, Shelby
- Dan Grothause
Region 10 – Clark, Darke, Greene Mercer, Montgomery
- Brian Wical
Region 13 – Butler, Clermont, Hamilton, Warren
- Brandi Noe
- Cheryl Helsel
- Shawn Riley,
- Hamilton County ESC – School Safety Administrator
- [email protected], 513-674-4376
Physical Security
Ten Best Practices for School Administers to improve safety. LEARN MORE >>>
- Establishment of a Safety Team that meets quarterly
- All drills (fire, safety, and shelter-in-place) conducted as required by law and by the Ohio Department of Education.
- Visitors must sign in and wear a visitor badge while on premises
- Video cameras are used to monitor activity
- All volunteers must be compliant with Child Protection Decree requirements
- Chemicals on school grounds must have a Safety Data Sheet
- Schools are to be in compliance with Ohio’s Department of Homeland Security expectations
- School staff are to supervise the hallways, the cafeteria during lunch, outdoor recess, entrances and exits during arrival and dismissal
- School Resource Officer to be on premises during school hours
- Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in all school buildings
- Multiple staff members are to be CPR certified on a yearly basis
- Invite local first responders to visit in order to build relationships with students
- Bus drivers and students are to annually review and practice evacuation safety drills
This document includes a list of options for low cost or no cost tactics that schools can consider as a part of their safety efforts. LEARN MORE >>>
Recommendations
- Partner with local law enforcement
- Have a patrol officer park outside Church during school mass
- Work with them to have officers complete paperwork in Church parking lot
- If students walk a long distance from school to Church ask that a law enforcement officer be present during the transition
- Lock all Church doors except for the main entrance doors.
- Have a staff member present at the main entrance doors to act as a greeter – Learn more about “The Power of Hello”.
- Report anything suspicious
Used effectively, the right words can be a powerful tool. LEARN MORE >>>
Alert employees can spot suspicious activity and report it. Employee vigilance through the Power of Hello. LEARN MORE >>>
Ohio House Bill 47 requires AEDs in Schools, Sporting and Recreational buildings. LEARN MORE >>>
Ohio Senate Bill 112, effective October 2024, addresses schools’ exterior security door inspections. LEARN MORE >>>
Comment from Ohio Catholic Conference:
As a new law, schools will have until October 23, 2025, to secure an interior and exterior protective door assemblies security inspection. Schools should check and fix their interior and exterior protective door assemblies if they are not operating properly.
If the local fire department says that they do not have a qualified inspector, schools should make a detailed written record of the request and denial.
If the inspection finds a fault, schools should repair it within 180 days (major deficiency) or 18 months (minor deficiency). No fines exist for schools’ failure to comply with a failed Fire Marshal inspection.
The “authority having jurisdiction” over the inspections has not been defined yet by the State Fire Marshall (and the Board of Building Standards). We are assuming it will be the local fire departments. The new law gives the State Fire Marshall 18 months to sort it out and begin inspecting school records.
A proposal has been introduced to the Ohio General Assembly to enact Alyssa’s Law to require public and chartered nonpublic schools to implement a wearable panic alert system. LEARN MORE >>>
Communications
This document is meant to prompt an exercise for school staff to articulate the safety measures in place at their school.
In a time of crisis or concern prewritten language about school safety measures can be beneficial when communicating.
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Top 5 Tips offered in a supportive spirit. LEARN MORE>>>
Network - Cyber Security
Links:
Find resources to create a safer school. LEARN MORE >>>
Safety Committee Contacts
Bill Mitchell
Director of Safe EnvironmentBill Maly
Director of Risk ManagementVince Woodall
Deputy Superintendent, Operational VitalityJennifer Schack
Communications 