From March 9-11, 2026, school safety and transportation professionals from across Maine gathered at the Samoset Resort in Rockport for the annual Maine School Safety and Transportation Conference, hosted by the Maine Department of Education’s Maine School Safety Center.

The three-day event brought together school administrators, transportation directors, school resource officers, and law enforcement partners to strengthen coordination, improve emergency preparedness, and enhance school safety practices statewide.

The conference opened March 9 with a reception and dinner, followed by two days of training sessions, keynote presentations, and collaborative discussions focused on student and school safety.

Keynotes, Sessions Address Emerging Safety Challenges

The first full day featured keynote speaker John-Michael Keyes of the “I Love U Guys” Foundation. Keyes and his wife founded the organization in 2006 following a school shooting at Platte Canyon High School in Colorado that resulted in the death of their daughter. The foundation focuses on school safety, preparedness, and reunification protocols.

During his keynote, Keyes reflected on the Platte Canyon incident, including the interaction between hostage negotiator Stacy Avila and a 16-year-old student. The presentation highlighted the lasting impacts of crisis events and the importance of preparation, communication, and coordinated response.

On the second day, Keyes presented on the Standard Reunification Method, a framework designed to help schools safely reunite students with families following an emergency.

Attendees also participated in concurrent sessions addressing a range of school and transportation safety topics, including:

• Child harness systems and seat belt recommendations for school buses
• Anti-pinch technology and other transportation safety innovations
• Incident Command and Emergency Operations Center coordination
• Response to bomb threats and swatting incidents
• Drug trends and safety precautions
• Online exploitation and digital safety risks
• Behavioral threat assessment and violence prevention
• Psychological first aid and de-escalation techniques
• Restorative practices and student behavior strategies
• National Weather Service resources
• School safety in the digital environment

Transportation Collaboration and Training

Officer Katherine Dyment, school resource officer at Hampden Academy, and Brittany Russell, director of health, wellness, and safety at RSU 22, presented on a full-scale active shooter and reunification drill conducted in their district. The exercise involved local, county, and federal partners, along with more than 40 educators, and focused on improving operational readiness.

Transportation directors participated in roundtable discussions and training sessions focused on operational challenges, training needs, and strategies to improve bus safety.

Maine School Safety Center staff members Dr. Stacey Gulley-Vernon, restorative practices coordinator, and Cheryl Brackett, transportation coordinator, led a session titled “Safety, Driving, and Student Management — Which Comes First?” focused on balancing safety priorities in student transportation.

Additional sessions covered safety practices and tools for protecting students on and around school buses, as well as regulatory guidance from the Maine Department of Education and the Bureau of Motor Vehicles related to documentation and compliance.

Participants emphasized the importance of collaboration among schools, transportation departments, emergency responders, and community partners. The conference provided an opportunity for professionals to share experiences, exchange ideas, and strengthen statewide safety networks.

The event reinforced the Maine School Safety Center’s focus on planning, coordination, and maintaining safe learning environments.