By David Madden

SEWELL, N.J. (CBS) — Hundreds of law enforcement officers, school officials, and parents from throughout South Jersey turned out today for the annual “School Safety and Security Conference” in Sewell (Gloucester County).

Over the last six years, topics that have taken center stage have changed.  Last year, for example, the emphasis was on cyber-bullying.

(Gloucester County prosecutor Sean Dalton. Credit: David Madden)

“Now we’re talking about invasion-of-privacy issues, about how cell phones can be used to record individuals in a classroom,” says Gloucester County prosecutor Sean Dalton (right).  “These are issues that we would not have thought about maybe  five or ten years ago.”

Seven South Jersey counties sent participants to this conference, which also addressed sexual predators and gang activity.

Dalton says it’s hard to know what trouble might come as schools open. The important thing, he says, is that everyone be as prepared as possible.