Tuesday, July 27, 2010

National School Safety and Security Services

www.schoolsecurity.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MISSING PORTLAND ELEMENTARY STUDENT REVEALS SCHOOL SAFETY CONCERNS

Kyron Horman case points to family and custody issues top threat to elementary school safety, expert says

[CLEVELAND] --- Family and custody issues are one of top safety concerns for many elementary school administrators, according to Kenneth S. Trump, a national school safety expert.

"Non-custodial parents and other family conflicts often pose one of the greatest school safety concerns at the elementary school level. While middle and high schools typically focus on student violence, elementary schools are often most concerned about non-custodial parent abductions and related family conflicts which can spill over into the school to threat the safety of elementary children," said Trump, of National School Safety and Security Services.

Kyron Horman, a Portland (Oregon) second-grader, has been missing since June 4th. He was last reportedly seen with his step-mother at a science fair held that morning at the school. Trump raised custody issues in one of the first newspaper story reports on this case in The Oregonian newspaper shortly after the incident occurred.

Trump says elementary school safety teams can take a number of prevention and preparedness steps to reduce risks related to custody issues. Enhanced supervision, close monitoring of custody issues, and improved school access control can help reduce risks. Training school staff on how to respond to strangers and non-custodial parents who show up at school, and having well established crisis plans, improve school preparedness for an incident which cannot be prevented.

"Oftentimes schools focus their limited school security and emergency preparedness funds and programs on middle schools and high schools, but elementary schools also need to receive training and support with school safety. The nature of the safety threats may be different, but the need for security at elementary schools must be a part of the school district's overall school safety program," Trump said.

Trump is a four-time invited Congressional expert witness on school safety, security and emergency preparedness issues. He has authored two books and over 60 professional articles on K-12 school security and emergency preparedness issues. Trump has appeared on all cable and network news

channels, and is quoted regularly as a school safety expert in national daily newspapers and professional publications.

Expert Background and Contact Information:

Kenneth S. Trump, MPA

President

National School Safety and Security Services

Cleveland, Ohio

216-251-3067

For full biographical see

www.schoolsecurity.org/school-safety-experts/trump.html

Kenneth S. Trump, M.P.A., is the President of National School Safety and Security Services, a Cleveland-based national firm specializing in school security and emergency preparedness training and consulting. Ken served as a school safety officer, investigator, and youth gang unit supervisor for the Cleveland City Schools' safety division, and as a suburban Cleveland school security director and assistant gang task force director.He has authored two books and over 60 articles on school security and crisis issues. As one of the leading U.S. school safety experts, Ken has 25 years experience in the school safety profession and has worked with school and public safety officials from all 50 states. He is one of the most widely quoted school safety experts, appearing on all national news networks and cable TV and in top market newspapers. Ken is a four-time invited Congressional witness testifying on school safety and emergency preparedness issues. For more background, see www.schoolsecurity.org/school-safety-experts/trump.html