The Sconi

The Wisconsin Department of Justice Office of School Safety (OSS) is playing a vital role in supporting schools across the state during crisis situations. The OSS offers guidance and support to educational institutions affected by traumatic events, including student deaths, bomb threats, school shootings, and staff misconduct.

Attorney General Josh Kaul emphasized the importance of these services, stating: “The Office of School Safety ensures that support is available for students and staff impacted by crises. These services can be an integral part of re-establishing stability in a school community and helping kids get back to learning.”

Since September 2020, OSS has been involved in over 150 critical incidents in schools throughout Wisconsin. While there is no universal solution for all crisis events, OSS assists school crisis teams from preparation to recovery.

In the event of a crisis affecting a school community, OSS provides consultation to leadership or crisis teams to determine effective response and recovery strategies. The aim is to meet both physical and psychological security needs swiftly.

Interventions offered by OSS vary based on community needs but may include caregiver training for staff, resources for parents and staff, ongoing leadership team support, planning social activities, guidance for interventions post-suicide to prevent contagion, among others.

Moreover, OSS has established 12 regional Critical Incident Response Teams across Wisconsin. These teams are ready to assist any school experiencing a crisis upon request. Each Cooperative Educational Service Agency in the state also has social support toolkits for implementing social interventions during crises.

OSS offers programs crucial for safeguarding educational environments. In 2020, it launched Speak Up, Speak Out (SUSO), a confidential reporting system available statewide at no cost to schools. It serves as a single contact point for reporting concerns before violence occurs.

Additionally, OSS provides free training on violence prevention and crisis management topics such as Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management (BTAM), Standard Response Protocol (SRP), and Standard Reunification Method (SRM). Communities can request regional training sessions.

Funding remains an essential aspect of maintaining these initiatives. In 2024, Governor Tony Evers signed Assembly Bill 1050 into law providing bridge funding through September 2025. This temporary funding aims at ensuring continued success while seeking long-term financial solutions as part of the 2025-2027 biennial budget.