S3ynergy newsletter

As summer approaches, the Safe & Secure Schools (S3) team is busy developing the software and securing resources for its school partners to manage safety issues in the fall. Since our last update, the S3 team has made great strides in strengthening the S3 program, which promotes S3YNERGY between schools and the emergency response community. S3 garnered national attention through an article in School Business Affairs Magazine. A new pilot project is in the works that will provide several of our school partners with increased fire safety capabilities. Experts from a range of disciplines continue to refine the S3 decision tool that will be introduced during the Annual Conference of the National Association of State Fire Marshals (NASFM) in July. The federal funding situation is heating up as well, with grant applications for the Emergency Response and Crisis Management Grant Program expected out from the Department of Education (DoEd) on June 14. The release of the application package for the Assistance to Fire Firefighters Grant Program from the Department of Homeland Security will be released in late July or early August. The team is working on a revamped website, too.

National Exposure: An article showcasing the S3 program, entitled "Executive Decision Making for Safe and Secure Schools," appeared in the June issue of SchoolBusiness Affairs, a publication of the Association of School Business Officials (ASBO). Randall Napoli, the director of the Florida Division of Fire Safety, wrote the article, which focuses on S3's goal of helping school officials make accurate decisions to ensure the safety of their students. Mr. Napoli serves on the NASFM Board of Directors and is the chair of the Association's Catastrophic Fire Prevention Task Force. Please visit http://asbointl.org/index.asp for more information on ASBO and its publications.

Pilot Project: The S3 project team is preparing to start another fire safety demonstration project in July to provide new wireless "smart" fire extinguisher monitoring technology to a select group of elementary schools within S3 pilot communities. MIJA (www.mija.com) is donating the equipment and funds for participating schools to receive training on its use. Select participants will include: Anchorage School District in Alaska; Goffstown School District in New Hampshire; Morris County Schools in New Jersey; Orange County Public Schools in Florida; and Alameda County Schools in California. This new opportunity follows the successful completion of our first fire safety demonstration project late last year that provided Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters (AFCIs) and intumescent paint to selected schools.

S3 Decision Tool Update: Dr. Geoffrey N. Berlin, who was recently appointed to NASFM's Science Advisory Committee (SAC), is using his considerable scientific expertise to aid in the continuing development of S3's decision tool. Dr. Berlin brings his significant experience with statistical methods and information technology to the Technology International, and teaches at Southern Polytechnic State University, which are both located in Atlanta. He also was the Director of Research for the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) in Boston from 1977-1980. He joins colleague Hank Roux, a fellow SAC member and a veteran S3 team member. The initial software focus is on the prevention and mitigation of violence and fire safety incidents, using the "concept decision tree" approach to guide users to options for achieving their objectives. Using the software, school officials will be provided with practical means of achieving the established goals and cost estimates for each action or necessary technology will also be included to maintain the cost-efficiency aspect. The tool will help determine the most efficient distribution of funding based on a school's current total budget and the most effective actions to achieve desired outcomes.

NASFM Conference: State Fire Marshals attending the NASFM Annual Conference in Reno, Nevada, in July will receive an S3 update. A highlight will be a sneak peek of the S3 software prototype, with Mr. Roux and Dr. Berlin showing how the tool can be used in different scenarios, including a bomb threat and fire drill. For more information on the conference, please visit the NASFM website, www.firemarshals.org, and click on "Events."

Current and Future Resources: As the experts work on the S3 decision tools, schools should be exploring all of their federal funding options to implement their suggested safety measures. The program guidance for DoEd's Emergency Response and Crisis Management Grant Program has been delayed. It will be released on June 14, with a new deadline of July 29. Local education agencies (LEAs) can apply for this funding to strengthen and improve emergency response and crisis management plans. The program will offer approximately 100 grants ranging from $100,000-$500,000. Visit the program's website, http://www.ed.gov/programs/dvpemergencyresponse/index.html, for additional information. The S3 team still intends to strengthen partnerships between school districts and their local emergency responders by securing funding through the Fire Prevention and Safety (FPS) program under the Assistance to Fire Firefighters Grant program. FPS grants assist state, regional, national and local organizations in addressing fire prevention and safety. The funding primarily goes to benefit high-risk target groups. Programs focusing on preventing fire-related injuries to children receive preference in funding. The FY 2005 application period will run from September through October. This year, approximately $38 million will be available, and grants up to $1 million will be awarded.

Website Reconstruction: The S3 team is in the process of reconstructing its website (www.safesecureschools.org) to provide school officials with the latest information and make it easier for them to provide suggestions on our program. We want your insights as the S3 decision tool is being developed and your experiences with applying for federal funding, especially the recent Safe Schools-Healthy Students Initiative earlier this year. The site should be fully operational by the end of June. For additional information or to share a Safe Schools-Healthy Students funding story, please contact Ray Sweeney by e-mail at fsweeney@firemarshals.org or by phone at 202/737-1226