Independence Local Schools staff spent Friday, September 25, strengthening school safety knowledge and preparedness during a districtwide Professional Learning Day. With students not in session, teachers, administrators and staff gathered at Independence High School for a morning of professional learning before returning to their individual buildings for safety planning in the afternoon.
Attorney Eric Johnson of Weston Hurd spoke with staff about social media, artificial intelligence, and safety, including important legal considerations. His presentation provided staff with information to help them understand the responsibilities and potential risks that come with using rapidly evolving AI and social media tools in an educational setting.
School safety was also a major focus of the day. Andy Fetchik, who served as principal of Chardon High School at the time of the 2012 school shooting, shared his firsthand experiences with Independence staff. Fetchik discussed lessons learned from the tragedy and his perspective as a school leader responsible for supporting students and staff during and after a crisis. His presentation provided staff with an opportunity to hear directly from an educator who has experienced a school emergency and consider how preparation, communication and leadership play a role in school safety.
Following Fetchik's presentation, Independence School Resource Officers Keegan and Green provided staff with an overview of safety protocols. The training reinforced procedures and expectations designed to help staff respond appropriately during an emergency.
In the afternoon, staff returned to Independence Primary School, Independence Middle School and Independence High School for building-specific professional learning. Teams reviewed and worked on safety plans tailored to their individual buildings.