Foncello Hears Briefing on Work of New School Safety Center

Danbury—Members of the Greater Danbury legislative delegation met January 27 with The CT Center for School Safety and Crisis Preparation at WCSU. The Center received state funding and opened last year to assist k-12 school districts with training and other resources. Representative Martin Foncello (R-Brookfield) was among the lawmakers who met with about a dozen members of staff from The Center.

“Many years ago, I was an adjunct professor at WCSU and later worked for the Department of Homeland Security. In that later capacity, I knew the behind the scenes of what went into the response to Sandy Hook, Uvalde and elsewhere. I first learned about the CT Center for School Safety and Crisis Preparedness at WCSU when I spoke recently with Brookfield leaders on what type of security should be in the schools,” said Foncello.

Center officials said cyberbullying and social media need to be viewed as a school safety issue

The mission of The Center is not just about addressing school shootings, but also natural disasters, cyber threats, and the potential of human trafficking.

A $2 million state grant will fund The Center for two years. Center officials estimate needing $6 million to fully staff the program and develop more services.