Category Archives: Safety

State offers facilities, business and maintenance staff training

Posted on May 7, 2013 by | Leave a comment

The Educational Plant Maintenance Association of Maine will deliver the 45th Annual School Facilities Conference this summer. The conference will be held at Colby College June 24-26, 2013. School administrators, facilities directors, business managers, maintenance teams and custodial staff are invited to attend.  Registration is free for public school staff. This is a multi-track conference on leadership, maintenance and custodial care. This conference provides a unique venue for school staff to collaborate and learn how to manage buildings to foster positive learning environments.

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Posted in Administrators, Facilities, Featured, Professional Development, Safety

Apply for school preparedness grants

Posted on April 30, 2013 by | Leave a comment

The application for this year’s Community Oriented Policing Services Secure Our Schools (SOS) Program grant recently opened.

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Posted in Featured, Funding, Safety

Register for Emergency Preparedness Conference

Posted on April 17, 2013 by | Leave a comment

The fifth annual Maine Partners in Emergency Preparedness Conference will focus on school emergency preparedness lessons and is open to superintendents, principals and school emergency preparedness teams.

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Posted in Administrators, Featured, Professional Development, Safety, Teachers

FEMA seeks young applicants for preparedness council

Posted on April 11, 2013 by | Leave a comment

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Youth Preparedness Council provides an opportunity for young leaders to serve as a member of a distinguished national council; to complete a youth preparedness project for their choosing; to learn about youth disaster preparedness from the leadership at FEMA and other national organizations dedicated to youth preparedness; Continue reading →

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Posted in Dispatches, Safety, Science & Technology, Students

Maine schools may apply for school security funds

Posted on March 19, 2013 by | Leave a comment

A grant from the State Homeland Security Grant Program is now open, and school districts and independent schools are eligible to apply. The grant application is due April 12, 2013, at 5 p.m. Funds are available for school emergency preparedness facility security projects.

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Posted in Facilities, Featured, Funding, Safety

Results of 2012 Maine School IPM Survey released

Posted on February 20, 2013 by | Leave a comment

Managing pests, including insects, animals, weeds, and plant diseases, is an essential part of operating a healthy and safe learning environment for Maine’s students and staff. Integrated Pest Management is a proven approach that can reduce leading causes of childhood asthma and asthma triggers and reduce overall pest complaints with no long-term increase in costs. All K-12 schools in Maine are required by law to adopt and implement an IPM policy, notify parents, guardians and staff about pesticide use, and appoint an IPM coordinator.

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Posted in Dispatches, Facilities, Health, Safety

Attend Healthy Indoor Air for Schools Conference

Posted on February 6, 2013 by | Leave a comment

The Maine Indoor Air Quality Council is hosting a free, one-day Healthy Indoor Air for Schools Conference on March 12 as part of the Council’s two-day Maine Indoor Air Quality Conference. Schools and districts are invited to send a team of representatives–facilities staff, health care professionals, teachers and administrators–to this event. Continue reading →

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Posted in Administrators, Facilities, Featured, Health, Professional Development, Safety, Teachers

Model policy on bullying and cyberbullying released

Posted on January 3, 2013 by | Leave a comment

The Maine Department of Education’s model policy on bullying and cyberbullying is now available on the Bullying Prevention website.

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Posted in Featured, Safety, Students

No threat to Maine schools

Posted on December 20, 2012 by | Leave a comment

The Maine Department of Public Safety has just issued the following release. While law enforcement has found no credible threat, all agencies involved, including local school districts working with state and local law enforcement and the Maine Department of Education, remain vigilant and committed to the task of school emergency preparedness and take seriously all possible threats.

NEWS RELEASE from the Maine Department of Public Safety
from Spokesman Steve McCausland – 626-3811

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Posted in Press Releases, Safety

Request, resources, and info in the aftermath of Sandy Hook

Posted on December 19, 2012 by | Leave a comment
Originally posted Dec. 17, 2012

This memo from Commissioner Bowen is intended for superintendents, heads of private schools, and other administrators. It includes links below to key resources on emergency preparedness and talking with children about Sandy Hook.

Friday’s tragedy in Newtown, Conn., has shocked and saddened us beyond words. The Governor and I have both expressed our condolences and send our thoughts and prayers. I confess I can’t help but feel that our words seem insufficient within the scope of the tragedy. Still, I know that they are important, and I appreciate the efforts many of you have made to share your thoughts and prayers, and your efforts to communicate with your parents in the aftermath of this national tragedy.

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Posted in Featured, From the Commissioner, Safety