Board of Education Welcomes Area First Responders for Safety Presentation

First responder representatives from 10 police and fire jurisdictions that serve the Rockwood School District gave presentations to the Board of Education at its Sept. 11 meeting about the ways in which the district and first responders partner to keep our communities and schools safe and secure.

The first responders were invited to the Board meeting as an initiative of the Board’s COPE – Communications, Outreach and Public Engagement – committee.

The following first responders spoke with the Board about the strong partnerships their departments share with Rockwood and its schools:

• Chief John Bergfeld, Ballwin Police
• Sgt. Robert Powell, Chesterfield Police
• Assistant Chief Andy Vaughn, Ellisville Police
• Battalion Chief Scott Kavanagh, Eureka Fire Protection District
• Chief Michael Werges, Eureka Police
• Chief Romona Kaminski, Fenton Fire Protection District
• Chief Brad Shelton, Metro West Fire Protection District
• Assistant Chief Les Crews, Monarch Fire Protection District
• Lt. Ed Magee, St. Louis County Police, West County Precinct
• Capt. Jim Mundel, St. Louis County Police, Wildwood Precinct commander

“The partnership we have with our first responders in different departments help me do my job,” said district safety supervisor Ty Dennis. “I can call any of these people, and they’ll be right there. I’ve never been turned away. I enjoy the collaboration I have with them.”

The first responders shared the many ways, aside from responding to and preparing for potential emergency situations, in which their department personnel aid in the safety and security of Rockwood on a daily basis.

This involves providing training sessions for staff in subjects such as intruder drills, CPR, Stop the Bleed and Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), along with ensuring police and fire representatives are consistent, positive presences in the schools for students.

“We’re always there as partners in the community,” Shelton said. “That’s what I appreciate about every one of us here is we’re all here for one mission: to make our community stronger and better.”

Area police jurisdictions also provide school resource officers assigned to Rockwood’s middle and high schools, who partner with the district’s four school safety officers.

“Working with the Rockwood safety officers has been a tremendous asset to the district,” Vaughn said. “I applaud you for doing that. That’s been incredible. We stay very involved with our schools. It’s something we all believe in whole-heartedly.”

Werges is shared that, as a former Bowles Elementary and Rockwood South Middle student and Eureka High graduate – and the father of three Eureka graduates and one current Wildcat – maintaining a strong relationship with Rockwood is important to him for a variety of reasons.

“The lessons I learned more than 30 years ago, along with the friendships I built in the classroom and on the field, shaped me as a father, a neighbor and, now, as a police chief in this community. Rockwood is part of making me who I am,” Werges said. “That is why the partnership with the Rockwood School District and Eureka Police Department will be so strong. It’s not just professional. It’s personal to me. It’s home.

"Together, we prepare for challenges everyone hopes we will ever have to face. Our work ensures schools are ready and families can have peace of mind in sending their children to our schools. Together, we build a partnership that others look to emulate. We are proud to support you and, together, we are shaping not just safe schools but a stronger community.”

After hearing from first responders, the Board heard a district safety update from Dennis and Assistant Superintendent for Supervision of Elementary Education Dr. Paul Godwin, which covered Rockwood’s safety measures in six categories: personnel, physical safety, protocols, training, social and emotional security and communication.

One of the goal areas in “Forward Together,” Rockwood’s new strategic plan, is “Safe and Caring Schools.” In partnership with area first responders, Rockwood strives to create a safe, inclusive and supportive school community by continuing to enhance consistent school security, fostering a sense of belonging, strengthening student support services and enhancing communication between schools, families and the community to ensure a welcoming and secure learning environment for all.

“We have enhanced safety in the Rockwood School District because of the folks who are sitting behind us,” Godwin said. “That team mindset, it’s amazing to see how we work with our first responders as a collective unit. The sense of security these folks bring to our school district is absolutely amazing.”

(A special thank you to Metro West Captain of External Affairs and Community Health Matt Coppin for providing pictures of the presentations.)