The Berks County Intermediate Unit (BCIU), in partnership with the Berks County Department of Emergency Services (DES), coordinated a School Safety Tabletop Exercise for Berks County school administrators and law enforcement officials. The tabletop exercise, which was sponsored by the Berks County DES, was facilitated by Pennoni at Muhlenberg High School on Thursday, August 3, 2023, following the 2023 Berks County Schools and BCIU Administrators’ Conference. More than 250 administrators and law enforcement officials gathered with their respective teams to discuss emergency preparedness and enhance their responses to critical school safety scenarios.
The Berks County School Safety Tabletop Exercise was strategically designed to foster preparedness and coordination in the face of potential safety incidents. It provided a platform for collaboration between schools, emergency management, and law enforcement agencies, encouraging an integrated approach to maintaining school safety and security. Event speakers included Berks County District Attorney John Adams; Brian Gottschall, Director of Berks County DES; Pennsylvania Secretary of Education Dr. Khalid Mumin; Gary LeGore, LionTide Security Vulnerability Solutions, Inc.; and members of the Pennoni Exercise Team.
In today’s rapidly evolving world, comprehensive school safety plans have become indispensable. Through the Berks County School Safety Tabletop Exercise, the 18 Berks County school districts, two career and technology centers, and the Berks County Intermediate Unit, along with law enforcement officials from across the County, demonstrated their commitment to continuously improving safety and security protocols and ensuring the highest level of protection for all members of their school communities. It is vital that schools remain vigilant and well-prepared to safeguard their students and staff.
Russell Del Rosario, BCIU Safety and Security Program Administrator, provided opening comments for the exercise, “It is great to see all Berks County school districts and career centers represented, working together with our partners in law enforcement to address our priority of school safety and security. The School Safety Tabletop Exercise came to fruition through discussions with our Berks County Department of Emergency Services colleagues. DES presented us with the opportunity for grant funding to address the safety and security of our students and schools, and this county-wide tabletop was organized. We are thankful for their continued support and collaboration that made this event possible.”
The Berks County Intermediate Unit serves as the premier education services provider in Berks County and across the Commonwealth. Our mission is to provide high-quality resources, innovative services and programs, and responsible leadership to enrich the educational and social services needs of our children, families, schools, and greater community.
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