Leaders in School Safety to Form Coalition, Meet in Orlando

ORLANDO, FL - A coalition bringing together national school safety leaders, titled the Coalition of School Safety Directors, has been formed to enhance focus on safety over product-oriented strategies. The initiation occurred early in 2023 under the guidance of the School Safety Advocacy Council and key figures in school safety leadership.

This July, over 1,400 professionals from all 50 states, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and beyond, will convene at the National School Safety Conference in Orlando to celebrate its 20th anniversary. The gathering will mark the largest assembly of school safety decision-makers globally. The coalition aims to recalibrate the national school safety standards that have been skewed towards product sales rather than genuine safety concerns.

During the event, several critical topics including arming teachers, mental health, and threat assessment will be discussed. Curtis Lavarello, the Executive Director of the group, highlighted the coalition's role in shifting the focus back to protecting children and staff effectively. "Having this many school safety decision-makers under one roof will significantly change our opportunity to save lives," Lavarello remarked.