On Wednesday, January 29, 2025, Dr. Jill Hackman, Executive Director of the Berks County Intermediate Unit (BCIU), and Russell Del Rosario, Safety and Security Program Administrator at the BCIU, joined a small group of Berks County school leaders for a tour and training session at the Pennsylvania School Safety Institute (PennSSI) located in Mechanicsburg, PA.
Established in 2022, PennSSI provides hands-on training to help school personnel, security teams, and law enforcement prepare for emerging safety threats threats in school buildings and other locations where students and staff may be present. Its state-of-the-art, 5,000-square-foot facility features interactive scenarios, 360-degree smart screens, and a simulated school building, allowing participants to practice and evaluate their responses in real time.
Dr. Hackman emphasized the significance of ongoing training, stating, “Thank you to the Berks County school leaders in attendance for your continued commitment to safety and security—keeping students and staff safe is our top priority. Preparing for potential situations is essential, and we are fortunate that Berks County leaders remain dedicated to this important work.”