The Eastern Midlands Conference convened its first-ever School Safety Summit on Thursday, June 21. The full-day event was hosted at Elkhorn High School and included invited participants from the member EMC school districts of Bennington, Blair, Gretna, Elkhorn, Nebraska City, Norris, Plattsmouth, and Waverly. The event was collaboratively planned and developed by an EMC Superintendents committee including Terry Haack, Bennington Superintendent, and John Skretta, Norris Superintendent. The seminar included keynote presentations from safety and security experts representing a broad range of vital school safety areas. Morning presentations included an opening keynote from Jolene Palmer of NDE on standard response protocols for schools and resources available from the state. Boys Town Media Relations Director Kara Neuverth spoke on working with the media in the aftermath of a crisis, and an SRO Panel featuring Norris SRO Deputy Joe Gehr, as well as Douglas County Captain Hudson and Deputy Brian Piitz of Lancaster County shared strategies and resources for schools and law enforcement to work together to assess and mitigate potential threats.

The afternoon breakout sessions were held in classrooms to provide attendees with a special topical focus in an important school safety area. Presenters for breakout sessions included Bryan Trauma Manager Heather Talbott, who presented Stop The Bleed training, designed to ensure prompt access to life-saving, easy-to-use hemorrhage control steps. Also presenting a breakout session was Megan Boldt, ALICAP Director, who provided attendees with information on the Safe Schools National Course Library of content as well as safety checklists for educational occupancies to reduce the risk of accidents and injuries.

The event included a luncheon and presentation sponsored by Electronic Contracting, an industry leader in systems integration for campus security. 

Norris attendees included Superintendent Dr. John Skretta, RN Becky Pogreba, Middle School Assistant Principal and Safety Committee Chair Matt Rice, High School Guidance Counselor Kristi Moser, High School teacher Jamie Kernes, ESU 6 LMHP Paul Kraus, and Norris School Resource Officer Deputy Joe Gehr.