Educators, county, local police part of school safety forum

A panel that MIAMISBURG — includes educators, law enforcement and a student will be part of Miamisburg’s community forum tonight on school safety and security.

The 6 p.m. meeting in the Miamisburg High School commons area will include the group featuring a state school boardmember,representatives from the Montgomery County Sheriff ’s Office, the school district and the city and Miami Twp. police departments, said Superintendent David Vail.

Aside from hearing from the panel, those who attend will have time to seek answers on safety and security related issues that occur on a daily basis, Vail said.

“We’re going to update them and make them aware of the procedures and policies we have in place — and the safeguards within the school district,” he said.

Those measures include holding staff training, operating security vestibules and cameras, teaching bus safety, holding fire and tornado drills, and performing simulated building lockdowns, according to the school district.

A recent Ball State University survey found that 36 percent of Midwestern parents believe that in the next three years, their local high school is “highly likely” to have a shooting, gun threat or armed student incident.

Miamisburg has had a handful of actual lockdowns the past several years, but it has been among the vast majority of Miami Valley districts with no serious incidents – other than suicides — jeopardizing the safety of students and staff, Vail said.

The forum is expected to last between an hour and 90 minutes. The high school is located at 1860 Belvo Road. For more information,contacttheschool district at 937-866-3381.