Ysleta ISD to hold conference on student safety Saturday
To help address public concerns about safety and security in the weeks following the Aug. 3 mass shooting, the Ysleta Independent School District (YISD) will hold a special SAFE Conference on Saturday, Sept. 14, at two locations to equip and inform hundreds of YISD parents, counselors, and administrators about what they can do to keep their students, families, and schools safe.
In particular, this year’s SAFE (Safe And Supportive Schools For Everyone) Conference will feature 90-minute training sessions by the Texas Department of Public Safety on how civilians should respond during active-shooter events, as well as 45-minute sessions on such timely topics as:
• Vaping and THC drugs;
• Dangers of social media
• Sexual assault
• Human trafficking
• Talking to children after a tragic event
• Bullying
• Social hosting
• Mental health
• Gang awareness
• Counseling for children & adolescents
According to the 2019 State of School Safety Report released by the national nonprofit Safe and Sound Schools, the top three safety concerns among those surveyed (parents, students, educators, public safety officials, and community members) were an active-shooter event; mental health emergencies; and bullying.
The report recommended that schools close the gap between its stakeholders by offering more opportunities for discussions about school safety. This is why YISD is hosting the SAFE Conference – to provide a timely opportunity for stakeholders to discuss and educate themselves about health and safety concerns facing students today, and learn tools and strategies to help keep their families safe.
The SAFE Conference, which takes place from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14, is free of charge and open to Ysleta ISD parents, counselors, and school/district administrators at two locations:
• Parkland Middle School, 6045 Nova Way, 79924 (for most parents and a few Parkland-area counselors/administrators)
• Eastwood High School, 2430 McRae Blvd., 79925 (for most counselors/administrators and a few parents).
The keynote presentation will be given at both conference locations by Keeth Matheny, a national award-winning teacher, author, and speaker. For more information on the conference or how to RSVP, please contact YISD Family Engagement Coordinator Cynthia Corrales at 915-434-0798.
KVIA 2019
