At Margaretville Central School, we believe that creating a safe school environment requires preparation, awareness, and a shared commitment from everyone in our school community. We began the 2026–2027 school year with a strong focus on safety training for both faculty and staff and our students.
Preparing Our Faculty and Staff
As part of our initial two Superintendent’s Conference Days, MCS faculty and staff participated in American Red Cross training in CPR, AED use, and First Aid. This training provides employees with the knowledge and skills needed to respond to a variety of emergencies that may occur during the school day or at school-sponsored activities.
This training supports both our commitment to student and staff safety and our responsibility to meet New York State requirements related to emergency preparedness and response.
MCS Board of Education Policy 8121.2 – Automated External Defibrillators requires school administrators to ensure that at least one staff member trained in the operation and use of an AED is present:
Whenever school facilities are used for school-sponsored or school-approved curricular or extracurricular events or activities; and
Whenever a school-sponsored athletic contest is held at any location.
By providing CPR, AED, and First Aid training to our faculty and staff, we are strengthening our ability to respond quickly and appropriately when an emergency occurs.
Our goal is to ensure that we have trained adults throughout our school community who are prepared to recognize an emergency, respond appropriately, and connect students and others with the help they need.
Helping Students Recognize When Someone Needs Help
Students in Grades 8–12 participated in Sandy Hook Promise's Say Something program, an important component of our efforts to build a safe and supportive school community.
The Say Something program teaches students to recognize warning signs that someone may be at risk of hurting themselves or others and empowers them to take action. Students are taught a simple three-step approach:
Recognize the Warning Signs – Learn to identify concerning behaviors, statements, or warning signs that may indicate someone needs help, including warning signs that may appear on social media.
Act Immediately and Take It Seriously – Understand that concerns should not be ignored and that it is important to respond when something doesn't feel right.
Say Something – Tell a trusted adult or use an appropriate reporting system to get help for someone who may be in crisis.
The goal is to help students become upstanders rather than bystanders—students who recognize when something is wrong and understand that speaking up can help protect themselves, their peers, and the school community.
Continuing the Training
This work will continue throughout the school year. Following the Grades 8–12 training, MCS will expand the Say Something programming to students in Grades 4–7, using developmentally appropriate materials and activities.
Safety is an ongoing responsibility, and we are committed to providing our students and staff with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to recognize concerns, respond appropriately, and seek help when it is needed.
At MCS, safety is everyone's responsibility—and preparation makes a difference.