Secretary Kieran J. Shanahan and leaders of the N.C. Department of Public Safety kick off a statewide school safety tour next week in eastern North Carolina, with community forums set for Edenton and Morehead City.
Gov. Pat McCrory created the DPS Center for Safer Schools last month to serve as the state’s primary point of contact on school safety issues. The forums will bring together citizens and leaders in eight North Carolina communities in the coming weeks to learn about local concerns and challenges related to school safety. The first Safer Schools forum is scheduled for Tuesday, April 9, from 6-8 p.m. at the College of the Albemarle’s Edenton-Chowan Campus in Edenton. The second Safer Schools forum will take place on Wednesday, April 10, from 6-8 p.m. at Morehead Primary School in Morehead City.
“Gov. McCrory and I want to make sure that all North Carolina communities have the tools they need to make sure our children are safe while providing them with a quality education,” said DPS Secretary Kieran J. Shanahan. “The Safer Schools forums give me and my team in the Center for Safer Schools an opportunity to learn what tools are needed and assess ways that we can help prevent and respond to school safety concerns that may be unique to individual communities.”
Following brief presentations by state officials, the public will be given an opportunity to make comments or ask questions related to school safety or violence prevention. Those who are unable to attend the forums in person may send written comments to saferschools@ncdps.gov or visit www.centerforsaferschools.org for more information. Following completion of all the community forums, staff members with the Center for Safer Schools will document findings and offer feedback to Gov. McCrory.
In addition to the events scheduled in Edenton and Morehead City, the Center for Safer Schools will lead events in the following cities on the dates below.
- April 17 Boone
- April 18 Sylva
- April 23 Durham
- April 25 Concord
- April 30 Fayetteville
- May 2 Jamestown
Watch Safer Schools forums here live via Livestream http://new.livestream.com/accounts/3494995
“We believe the forums will create valuable collaborative partnerships going forward,” said Kym Martin, executive director of the Center for Safer Schools. “The forums should bring forth emerging proposals for the Center and local schools and communities to work toward together, to strengthen safety using the best and most promising strategies.”
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Contact: Diana Kees
Phone: 919-436-3147