É«ÖÐÉ«

The É«ÖÐÉ« is one of at least 160 school districts and Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) in New York State to receive the Utica National Insurance Group's "School Safety Excellence Award" for 2024 at the Titanium with Honors level.

This is the 12th year in a row the district has earned this honor, which is presented annually and recognizes school districts' safety efforts as they work to help keep students, staff and visitors safe.

The district received its award at Utica National's 42nd school safety seminar, one of seven such seminars the company hosts in the state. For 50 years Utica National has kept kids and school staff safe and currently insures more than 300 school districts in upstate New York alone.

É«ÖÐÉ« CSD officials accepted a certificate to commemorate the district's safety efforts and a $500 award for use in furthering those efforts from Utica National representatives.

Utica National's School Safety Excellence Award Program has three levels - titanium, platinum, and gold - in which schools can earn a meritorious distinction by meeting specific criteria to enhance overall safety. Through the program, schools with their own transportation, schools with contract transportation, and BOCES are evaluated. Categories covered include bullying prevention programs, playground safety and other areas, and are measured using specific, quantifiable surveys.

"Safety and health concerns continue to be a priority in our school districts," explained Brian Saville, senior vice president in Utica National's Educational Institutions Unit. "Districts that go 'above and beyond' to provide a safe, healthy and focused culture for learning are to be applauded, and we're pleased to count the É«ÖÐÉ« among them."