Indiana Insurance said it will present seminars in Iowa and Minnesota to provide school officials with information on how to deal with school violence and educator sexual misconduct.

Indiana Insurance, a Loveland, Ohio-based Liberty Mutual Agency Markets regional company, said the Safer Schools Seminars are designed to inform on methods to lessen the risks of "high profile and recurring school violence and cases of educator sexual misconduct."

The topics, the insurer said, are "at the forefront of concern for educators, law enforcement, parents and students."

At the seminars, Steve Munro, loss prevention manager for Indiana Insurance, will discuss crime prevention through environmental design, which, according to the company, "encompasses natural surveillance, territorial reinforcement, access and visitor controls, security cameras, weapons of opportunity, and transportation security.

The company said a subsequent presentation will cover sexual harassment in schools, abuser and victim profiles, and the necessary steps that should be taken to implement a meaningful sexual harassment policy.

Christopher Goetcheus, public relations consultant for Liberty Mutual Agency Markets, said similar events have been held in Michigan and Illinois over the last month. Additionally, he noted that daylong seminars were held in 2006 and 2007 which featured national experts who discussed school violence prevention and anti-bullying efforts.

This year, Mr. Goetcheus said, the seminars were paired down to a half-day and the topic of sexual misconduct by educators was added to the program.

The seminars are offered for all schools K-12, public and private, though Mr. Goetcheus noted that attendees have historically mainly been from public schools.

Indiana Insurance has announced the following seminar times and locations:

o Monday, May 12, Iowa Western Community College-Looft Hall, Council Bluffs, Iowa

o Tuesday, May 13, St. Olaf College- Buntrock Commons, Viking Theater, Northfield, Minn.

o Wednesday, May 14, Iowa State Center-Scheman Building, Room 275, Ames, Iowa

o Thursday, May 15, Kirkwood Community College-KTOS Center, Room 133, Marion, Iowa.

Special Reports /

Indiana Insurance To Host Seminars On School Threats

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