DA Morrissey Awards School Security Grant At 2012 School Security Summit

National and local experts on school safety issues, ranging from violent intruder defense strategies and protecting schools from explosives to the more subtle violence of bullying in cyberspace and in middle school, came together with more than 150 local educators and police at District Attorney Michael W. Morrissey’s 2012 School Security Summit this week.

Seven from Dedham attended, and came away with news that the town is receiving a School Security grant from DA Morrissey this year -- $2,000 for security cameras at Dedham High School.

The grant money will come out of assets seized from drug dealers by law enforcement and forfeited during court proceedings.

“We are doing all we can to make Norfolk County’s schools as safe as possible, and we appreciate Dedham’s partnership,” District Attorney Morrissey said.

The Summit was attended by Police Chief Michael D’Entremont, Guidance Director Joanne McCormick, school resource officer Ron Pucci, High School principal Ron McCarthy, juvenile officer Fred Matthies, adjustment counselor Mike Monahan and Middle School principal Debra Gately.

“Tragic, deadly events in other areas of the country have taught law enforcement and school officials valuable lessons on what works and what does not to keep students safe,” District Attorney Morrissey said. “We were able to use monies confiscated from and forfeited by drug dealers to bring in experts from as far away as Texas to talk about the very real threats students face, and hopefully provide local officials with additional tools to avoid those problems.”

Greg Crane from Response Options in Burleson Texas presented on best practices on violent intruders; Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Senior Special Agent Jessica Gotthold from New Jersey spoke about protecting schools from those threats; attorneys Matthew MacAvoy and Michael Joyce from Marshfield provided guidance on information sharing among school districts and law enforcement.

A trio from Deana’s Educational Theater in Wakefield previewed “Girl Chat,” a play they perform at schools across the region to explore, and help mitigate, middle school bullying and violence.

“We also took the opportunity to announce the new bullying and cyber-bullying resources that we have developed with the Norfolk Advocates for Children, which school departments can access at no cost,” Morrissey said.  “It is our hope that every school in every one of our towns is a little bit safer today because so many schools and police joined us in this effort, and came away with additional resources.”