INFORMATIONAL

  The Department of Education is pleased to announce a new
  resource available to local school divisions.  The VIRGINIA
  SCHOOL SAFETY CENTER (VSSC), funded through a grant from the
  Department of Criminal Justice Services, will provide a
  clearinghouse of information on issues related to school
  safety and violence prevention.
  
  In addition to serving educators, the VSSC will also be
  available to students, parents, and other youth service
  providers.  In this partnership with the Department of
  Criminal Justice Services, we will be working to establish
  closer connections with the law enforcement community in our
  efforts to ensure safe schools. 
  
  The start-up plans for the coming year include:
  
          Establishment of a video lending library
          Development and distribution of a Resource Guide
            for School Safety
          Distribution of a quarterly newsletter
          Establishment of an on-line network for teachers
            to encourage cross-curricula infusion of school
            safety and violence prevention information
          Establishment of an on-line network for student
            advocates of violence prevention
  
  The staff will continue to respond to requests for service
  and technical assistance. Other ongoing services include the
  collection and distribution of the annual Crime, Violence
  and Substance Abuse Report and serving as a liaison among
  school safety contacts throughout the state.  
  
  We invite you to visit the School Safety newsgroup on VAPEN. 
  If you have questions about the Center, please feel free to
  contact Marsha Hubbard, School Safety Specialist, at (804)
  225-2928.
  
  RTL/sbh