Welcome
Welcome to Safe Schools Wisconsin, Inc.
A 501c3 Non-Profit
IRS EIN 88-3618084
About Us
Our Team
Founder & CEO
The Founder and CEO of Safe Schools Wisconsin is Bob Soderberg.
Soderberg is a well-respected thought leader in public education and recently retired as an elected official with the Germantown School District (WI) as Board Director for 12 years and Board President for nine years.
In addition, Soderberg is an enterprise risk management professional who has traveled to and worked in over 87 countries in varying degrees of risk.
Soderberg has 30+ years of global experience in manufacturing, transportation, supply chain, multimedia, retail, public (k-12), higher education and corporate settings.
Soderberg is a thought leader who is business minded, risk based, customer focused and results orientated with diverse experience in areas to include: public speaking, Covid-19 response, Return to Work Readiness, mergers & acquisitions, cyber & information security, intellectual property protection, governance, compliance, environmental, health & safety, security, training & awareness, auditing & risk assessments, executive protection, investigations, kidnap, ransom & extortion, travel risk management, crisis management response & recovery, business continuity, emergency management, criminal justice, loss prevention and K-12 and higher education security.
Soderberg has held senior level positions that include Chief Security Officer (CSO), Vice President and Director level positions in companies such as Ace Hardware, Kmart, Thomson Multimedia, Visteon, Johnson Controls and Adtalem Global Education.
Soderberg is a former volunteer leader as a Vice Chair, Secretary and Director of the International Cargo Security Council. A past member of the World Customs Organization, Supply Chain Security, Trade Facilitation & Anti-Terrorism Task Force and a past adviser to the White House Office of Homeland Security and the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Currently Soderberg is serving as the Vice President, Enterprise Safety & Security and Chief Safety, Security & Resiliency Officer for Adtalem Global Education overseeing the enterprise wide EHS and security program.
In addition, Soderberg is the founder & CEO of Safe Schools Wisconsin, a 501c3 non-profit. Soderberg is a past member of the board of directors of Johnson Controls Navy Systems, LLC and past principal at Soderberg Global, LLC a global risk management consulting.
Soderberg was invited by then U.S. Department of State Secretary Kerry to become a Council Member of the Overseas Security Advisory Council where Soderberg was the Chair of the Threats & Risk to Personnel & Assets committee. Soderberg is currenting a member of the Senior Advisory Group.
Soderberg is board certified in security, as a Certified Protection Professional (CPP), with a BS degree in Law Enforcement Administration and Minors in Security Administration & Sociology from Western Illinois University. Additional education was obtained by attending the Domestic Security Executive Academy, held at the FBI Academy, Quantico, VA and Supply Chain Security management at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, NY.
Soderberg was recognized by Security Magazine as a Most Influential Person in Security for 2023.
Soderberg currently maintains a Secret security clearance with the Department of Homeland Security.
School & Police Liaison Coordinator
Mr. Russell Ewert is School & Police Program Liaison Coordinator where he will work with school districts and local police & sheriff departments on school security program implementation.
Mr. Ewert recently retired from the Milwaukee Police Department. During his 20-year career, Mr. Ewert served as a Patrol Officer assigned to the Anti-Gang Unit, Field Training Officer, and as a National Integrated Ballistics Information Network Technician focusing on intelligence gathering to combat gun violence. Mr. Ewert is a recipient of the Medal of Valor Lifesaving Award and two Meritorious Awards.
Mr. Ewert is a school board director at the Germantown School District where he is the district liaison representative on the Village of Germantown’s Park & Recreation Commission along with the chair of the Personnel and Teaching & Learning Committees. Mr. Ewert also serves on the Policy and Negotiations Committees and is the WASB Assembly board delegate representative.
Mr. Ewert has extensive experience in school security along with school district policies and programs. With his past law enforcement career, Mr. Ewert is uniquely qualified to assist in program implementation at schools within Wisconsin.
Mr. Ewert looks forward to raising the level of conversation and action around providing measures to mitigate school violence that rose to national prominence while he attended middle and high school.
Active Assailant & Threat Assessment Expert
Gregory M. Vecchi, Ph.D. is the Principal of Vecchi Group International, which provides consultation and training services in threat assessment, prevention, and response, crisis and tactical negotiation, behavioral analysis, and personal protection.
Dr. Vecchi serves as the Director of Training at SafeDefend LLC, where he develops and deploys research- and evidence-based training and consultation programs in threat assessment, prevention, and response. These training programs provide clients with the confidence and skills to manage and survive an active killer threat, especially during the critical gap of time between notification and arrival of first responders.
Dr. Vecchi has over 30 years of law enforcement experience and he is a U.S. Army veteran. He is a retired supervisory Special Agent and Chief of the FBI Behavioral Science Unit and career FBI negotiator.
During his career, Dr. Vecchi investigated Russian organized crime, international drug trafficking, international and domestic terrorism, and violent crime. In these positions, he gained extensive experience assessing and interacting with violent offenders, which he incorporates into his research, training, and consultation activities.
Dr. Vecchi has extensive experience in teaching and training. He is a Professor of Criminal Justice, Criminology, and Homeland Security, and he was a full-time instructor at the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia.
To learn more about Dr. Vecchi, please click here Gregory M. Vecchi, Ph.D. | LinkedIn
Our History
Shortly after the school shooting where 21 students and teachers were murdered at the Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, TX and while still on the Germantown (WI) School Board, on June 27, 2022, Bob Soderberg addressed the school board on School Security.
Soderberg asked the board to consider additional layering of security to further target harden our schools. Nine items were addressed during the board meeting.
On July 18, 2022, the Germantown School Board approved a Safety Resolution asking for changes to state law and for more funding to make schools safer in Wisconsin. The Safety Resolution was sent to the Governor, the Attorney General and each member of the Senate and Assembly.
The action by the board was welcomed by parents and other school districts and multiple press outlets within the state and nationwide covered it.
On August 17, 2022, Safe Schools Wisconsin, Inc., was launched.
Safe Schools Wisconsin, Inc., a 501c3 non-profit, advocates and champions for safe and secure schools in Wisconsin.
Among other things, available grant dollars will be distributed to target harden schools via a broad array of strategies and solutions.
Safe Schools Wisconsin, Inc. was launched after the catastrophic events that occurred in Uvalde, TX where the first responders failed to protect the students and teachers at the Robb Elementary School.
21 students and teachers were murdered.
Safe Schools Wisconsin, Inc. recently obtained their 501c3 status and can collect contributions which will allow Safe Schools Wisconsin, Inc. to distribute grants to schools that need assistance.
Every child and teacher deserve to go home safe and secure at the end of the day.
Unfortunately, the events that occurred in Uvalde, TX, will occur again unless we do all we can to provide the tools that our schools need to mitigate the risk from active assailant events.
Our Mission
Safe Schools Wisconsin, Inc. a 501c3 non-profit, is an advocate and champion for safe and secure schools in Wisconsin.
Among other things, grant dollars will be available to target harden schools via a broad array of strategies.
Grants will be available to fund much needed security improvements. Current focus will be on the following:
- School Security Officer (SSO) - As a supplement to the sworn School Resource Officer that may be in a school, the SSO will be a retired law enforcement officer (LEO) that will be armed as allowed by the federal Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act (HR 218). The SSO would follow their local police department protocols, with the same service weapon, duty belt and firearm qualification training. There are hundreds of retired LEOs that want to continue to serve their communities and this position provides a pathway for them to protect our most important asset, our kids. For an Information Sheet on the SSO, please see the Program Implementation Material section below.
- Security Glazing Laminate - Security laminate for perimeter glass doors to mitigate risk of entry by the would-be shooter.
- Weapons Detection Technology - Similar to magnetometers at airports, this technology would be placed at entrances to the school and provides for high thru put and detects weapons.
- Security Assessments - Subject matter experts that will conduct security assessment at schools focusing on active assailant mitigation.
In addition, plans are to be a clearing house for school safety & security related awareness, guidelines and available technology to mitigate risk as it relates to active assailant matters.
Webinars with subject matter experts will also be presented on safety & security topics.
Security Technology & Strategies
Security Laminate for Glass Windows & Doors
- Safe Haven Defense
- Demo - Safe Haven Defense Window Film
- 3M Brand Security Window Film
- Demo - 3M brand Security Laminate to mitigate entry to the site.
Shooter Detection
Weapons Detection
Bleeding Control - Stop the Bleed
Security Bollards (Vehicle Ramming Mitigation)
Mass Notification
Threat Assessment
- Speak Up
- See Something Say Something
- Threat Assessment Consultation
- Threat Assessment Protocol
- Mandatory Reporting of Threats of Violence
- Developing a Multi-Disciplinary Behavorial Threat Assessment & Managment Team
Mental Health Resources
Bullying Prevention Resources
- A Framework for School-Wide Bullying Prevention & Safety
- Facts About Bullying
- What is Bullying?
- What is Cyberbullying?
- StopBullying.gov
Armed Assailant Resources
- Armed Assailant Drills in Schools
- Comprehensive School Security Framework
- Safe School Legal Resource Manual
- Reunification (CDC)
- Reunification Plans (Safe and Sound Schools)
- Run. Hide Fight (FBI Video)
- In the Aftermath (FBI Video)
- Evan - Preventing Gun Violence (Sandy Hook Promise Video)
- Active Shooter Incident 2022 (FBI Report)
- Planning and Response to an Active Shooter (CISA Report)
Best Practices
Click on these links to find information relative to mitigating risk as it relates to active assailant matters in our schools.
- Sample School Security Officer Job Description - See the Program Implementation Material section below.
- Improving School Security Through Bystander Reporting. US Secret Service report
- Averting Targeted Violence. US Secret Service report.
- Enhancing School Safety Using a Threat Assessment Model
- SchoolSecurity.gov
- Vehicle Ramming
- Mass Gatherings
- WI Office of School Safety
- Final Report of Federal Commission on School Safety
News You Can Use
Click on these links for news on school safety and security.
Germantown School District Safety Resolution Media
- Germantown School District passes Safety Resolution
- Germantown School Board passes Safety Resolution
- School Board Member Suggest Additional Security is Needed
- Washington Co. school board gains support from state lawmakers to arm teachers (tmj4.com)
- School Board Approves School Security Officer Position
Germantown, WI School Shooting
Nashville, TN School Shooting
Uvalde, TX School Shooting Media
Oxford, MI School Shooting Media
Parkland, FL School Shooting Media
Click on these links for like-minded sites that support school safety & security:
- National Association of School Resource Officers
- ALICE
- D.A.R.E.
- Safe and Sound Schools
- National Association of School & Campus Police Chiefs
Donate
To fund the very important mission of Safe Schools Wisconsin requires significant dollars.
100% of your donation will go to fund the mission of Safe Schools Wisconsin.
Become a donor today:
- Platinum Partner - $100,000
- Gold Partner - $75,000
- Silver Partner - $50,000
- Other - We welcome what you can give.
Your contributions, which are tax deductible, will have a significant impact on the safety and security at our schools.
To donate, please reach out to:
contact@safeschoolswisconsin.com
Or see the Wire Transfer Information in the Program Implementation section below.
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