ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 6—U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige today met with school security chiefs from more than 25 school districts—including some of the largest districts in the country—to discuss the variety of school safety issues currently facing communities. The group discussed local emergency preparations; responses to the tragic events of Sept. 11; biological threats, prevention and responses; and a forthcoming guide that will help schools respond to bomb threats.

"The traditional issues of school and child safety have not gone away," Paige told the chiefs, "but we have added another level of concern—terrorism and bioterrorism. As a superintendent, I had an obsessive interest in safety. Now, as secretary of education, I want to work with our security chiefs and other local leaders to make sure that every school in America has in place strong, comprehensive crisis preparation and response plans."

This year marks the seventh year the security chiefs have met. Today's meeting was the second this year, one of two annual meetings sponsored by the Safe and Drug Free Schools Program and its director, Bill Modzeleski.

In addition to Secretary Paige, the group also heard from other state, federal and local officials who shared their expertise about school safety planning.

Gregory Thomas, executive director of the New York City Board of Education's Student Safety and Prevention Services, offered an in-depth and first-hand presentation on New York City schools' response to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and the subsequent actions of school officials, law enforcement and the surrounding community. He described the tremendous focus of teachers and other school officials as they literally guided children to safety.

Raymond Diaz, commanding officer of the New York City Police Department's School Safety Division, provided a report on the work of local law enforcement, both during and after the events, as well continuing work with the entire community to help with physical and mental recovery. Some of the efforts he detailed included emergency communications, mobilization of support personnel, securing the crime scene, and clean up and repair of school facilities.

The school security chiefs received a briefing on public health and biological weapons from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention epidemiologist Alicia Fry and Maryland's Secretary of Health Georges C. Benjamin.

Fry, who is currently investigating anthrax cases, reported on the use of biological weapons, disease prevention and precautions, exposure and contamination issues, and concerns about hoaxes.

Benjamin underscored the need to link schools to law enforcement, public health and emergency medical services, and the need to know about the physical school building.

Bill King and Donald Robinson, agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), also met with participants to discuss a bomb-threat guide that is being created for school districts jointly by ATF and the U.S. Department of Education. The guide will provide advice for schools and school officials on how to respond methodically and consistently to bomb threats, search and evacuation procedures, and handling of suspicious packages and involvement of law enforcement.

For more information about school safety, visit the U.S. Department of Education's Web site at http://www.ed.gov/offices/OSDFS/

NOTE TO EDITORS: A list of school security officials that attended follows.

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