As we move into Spring, it is important for schools to be prepared for the severe weather that can come with it. Although tornadoes can occur any time of the year, for Illinois tornado season is generally March through May. Given their sheer destructive power, tornadoes pose a serious threat to schools. A quick search of YouTube provides several examples (such as Joplin, Missouri; Moore, Oklahoma; and Henryville, Indiana) of the devastation tornadoes can cause to school buildings and the trauma they can cause for those involved. Below are several resources on preparing for tornado season.

The Illinois School and Campus Safety Program is pleased to announce that a session of the "Digital Threat Assessment" training through Safer Schools Together will be held on March 12, 2021, via Zoom. The goal of the Digital Threat Assessment class is to give attendees a stronger understanding of the current social media world, provide tools to be able to proactively identify student safety concerns, and provide strategies for dealing with online situations as they arise. For more information and to register, click here.

The Illinois School and Campus Safety Program is pleased to announce that a session of the "Digital Threat Assessment" training through Safer Schools Together will be held on March 18, 2021, via Zoom. The goal of the Digital Threat Assessment class is to give attendees a stronger understanding of the current social media world, provide tools to be able to proactively identify student safety concerns, and provide strategies for dealing with online situations as they arise. For more information and to register, click here.

The Illinois School and Campus Safety Program, in collaboration with the National Center for Biomedical Research and Training at Louisiana State University, is pleased to announce a session of the "Campus Emergencies Prevention, Response, and Recovery" course will be held March 24-25, 2021, from 8:30am to 12:30pm via Zoom. The course aims to train personnel from PK-12 schools and institutions of higher education (IHEs), first responders, elected officials, and community stakeholders to respond to campus emergencies effectively and cooperatively during an active shooter incident. Participants will examine successful, nationally accepted emergency management principles that can be used to address the wide range of threats and hazards that educational entities face. During the course, participants will discuss emergency planning considerations, the importance of an integrated response to campus emergencies, and communications and recovery issues that need to be addressed. For more information and to register, click here.