Indiana is only state to require certain safety certification in schools

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - Tamie Niedens is a Fort Wayne mom of two who felt increased anxiety Monday sending her children off to school for the first time since the news broke of a horrific rampage at a Connecticut elementary school.

“Every day when I kiss them goodbye, I am sending them off in someone else’s care so it makes me worry,” Niedens said.

Her children attend Hickory Center Elementary in the Northwest Allen County Schools district which she calls a blessing.

“I know that all of [the Hickory Center staff] would protect all of our children the same way I would,” she said.

It’s the unknown that worries Niedens and for what Indiana educators do their best to prepare.

Indiana is the only state to require that every school corporation has a certified safety specialist on staff, trained through an Indiana Department of Education academy.

The program covers the fundamentals of creating an emergency response plan and developing an all-hazards safety plan for various crises.  It also reviews safety laws and regulations according to the program’s director, David Woodward said.

“From a national perspective, whenever we have someone come to Indiana and do an audit of a school, or work with a school… They always say ‘you are miles ahead of where we are in our state’ wherever that may be,” Woodward said.

The extensive training program was launched in 1999.  There are more than 1,100 certified safety specialists in almost 300 school corporations across Indiana.