Safety News

Webinars on Guides for Developing High-Quality School Emergency Operations Plans
Raymond Hall - June 20, 2013 08:23

Dear Colleagues, On Thursday, June 27th and again on Friday, June 28th, 2013, the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Safe and Healthy Students and its Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools (REMS) Technical Assistance (TA) Center will host 90-minute webinars that provide an overview of two recently released guides: · Guide for Developing High-Quality School Emergency Operations Plans; and · Guide for Developing High-Quality Emergency Operations Plans for Institutions of Higher Education. In January 2013, the President put forward his “Now is the Time” plan to reduce gun violence. One of the executive actions put forth in his plan was the development of these new guides that have been developed by the Departments of Education; Justice, led by the FBI; Homeland Security, led by FEMA; and Health and Human Services. These new guides will help schools and institutions of higher education develop and implement high-quality emergency operations plans (EOPs), and describe the principles and processes that will help ensure planning efforts are aligned with the emergency planning practices at the national, state, and local levels. These webinars will be done in collaboration with all of the Federal agencies that worked together to develop the guides, and will provide an overview of: · the key principles for developing a comprehensive EOP for a school or IHE; · the planning process for developing, implementing and refining an EOP for a school or IHE; · the form, function, and content of a school or IHE EOP plan; and · topics that support emergency operations planning including, but not limited to, information sharing, school climate, active shooter situations, and psychological first aid for schools. In order to accommodate as many interested parties as possible, there will a 90-minute school guide webinar and a separate 90-minute IHE guide webinar on June 27th and these two webinars will be repeated on June 28th. In addition, both webinars will be archived for those unable to participate on the 27th or 28th . The webinars will include a 60-minute presentation on a guide and a 30-minute question and answer session, along with information on how to access more information and resources. The webinars are first come, first serve; we strongly encourage you to pre-register! Registration can be accessed at: http://remstacenter.org/webinars/WebinarsJune2728.aspx. Webinar dates and times are as follows: Thursday, June 27th, 2013 • 1:00 - 2:30 p.m. ET (90 minutes) An Overview of the Guide for Developing High-Quality School Emergency Operations Plans. • 3:00 - 4:30 p.m. ET (90 minutes).An Overview of the Guide for Developing High-Quality Emergency Operations Plans for Institutions of Higher Education. Friday, June 28th, 2013 • 12:00 - 1:30 p.m. ET (90 minutes) An Overview of the Guide for Developing High-Quality Emergency Operations Plans for Institutions of Higher Education. • 2:00 - 3:30 p.m. ET (90 minutes) An Overview of the Guide for Developing High-Quality School Emergency Operations Plans. We hope you can join us! If you are unable to do so, these webinars will be archived on the REMS TA Center website ( http://rems.ed.gov ) for you to access at your convenience. Please share this email with anyone who may be interested in participating in these webinars. Thank you. Sincerely, The REMS TA Center Team REMS Technical Assistance Center http://rems.ed.gov 1-855-781-7367 (REMS) info@remstacenter.org 8757 Georgia Avenue Suite 1440 Silver Spring, MD 20910 

EPA 2013 School IPM Request for Proposals: The School Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Grants will support projects that promote the adoption of verifiable IPM practices in the nation's K-12 public and tribal schools. EPA strongly encourages projects that use consortia, partnerships, and other collaborative means in conducting the project.

Funding: maximum funding level of $250,000 per project

Eligibility: Eligible applicants include the 50 States, District of Columbia, U.S. Virgin Islands, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, any territory or possession of the United States, any agency or instrumentality of a State including State universities, and all Federally recognized Native American Tribes. Local governments, private universities, private nonprofit entities, private businesses, and individuals are not eligible. For-profit organizations are not eligible.

The Agency is accepting proposals through July 29, 2013.

The EPA’s Office of Pesticide Programs is soliciting proposals for new School IPM assistance agreements for projects that further the implementation of verifiable IPM in and around the nation’s public and tribal schools. The total amount available will be $700,000, and the Agency anticipates funding approximately three projects, primarily as cooperative agreements, with a maximum funding level of $250,000 per project.

Assistance under this competition is available to the 50 states, District of Columbia, U.S. Virgin Islands, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, any territory or possession of the United States, any agency or instrumentality of a state including state universities, and all federally recognized Indian tribal governments. Applications must be submitted on or before July 29, 2013.

The cooperative agreements will provide financial assistance to eligible applicants for projects that (1) implement verifiable IPM programs to identify and reduce the risks associated with pests and pesticide use in and around kindergarten to 12th grade public and tribal schools and (2) measure and document the impacts of verifiable public and/or tribal school IPM programs on the environment and human health. The project period of performance is limited to 2 years.

Integrated Pest Management is an effective and environmentally sensitive approach to pest management that relies on a combination of easy-to-implement, common-sense practices. IPM programs use current, comprehensive information on the life cycles of pests and their interaction with the environment. This information, in combination with available pest control methods, is used to manage pest damage by the most economical means and with the least possible hazard to people, property and the environment. IPM takes advantage of all appropriate pest management options including, but not limited to, the judicious use of pesticides.

For more information regarding the School IPM Grants and the Request for Proposals, visit: http://www.epa.gov/pestwise/ipminschools/grants/.

Mark your calendars for the 35^th annual OSSSOA Summer Workshop July 23^rd at the Riverhouse in Bend Oregon.  The theme of this year’s workshop is Can You Afford.. and the focus is on strategies to avoid losses that districts cannot afford.  We will address athletic field and play surface safety,  School Safety and Security, and Safety Within Special Ed. To register and to view the full agenda workshop, Click Here.

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