SCHOOL VIOLENCE SCHOOL VIOLENCE

PROTECTING OUR SCHOOLSPROTECTING OUR SCHOOLS

Safe School Safe School PlanningPlanning______________________________________________

A Check List for A Check List for Developing A Safe Developing A Safe

School PlanSchool PlanClicking on a figure Clicking on a figure

will activate will activate resources. resources.

LawsLaws

• Gun-Free Schools Act of 1994Gun-Free Schools Act of 1994

• The Safe School Committee LawThe Safe School Committee Law

• Drug-Free School Zones Drug-Free School Zones

• School Bullying Prevention ActSchool Bullying Prevention Act

• Healthy and Fit Kids Act of 2004Healthy and Fit Kids Act of 2004

• School Emergency Management School Emergency Management PlansPlans

What laws regulate safe school What laws regulate safe school plans?plans?

Safe School PlanningSafe School Planning

• School safety will be placed at the top School safety will be placed at the top of the educational agenda.of the educational agenda.

• A school wide plan will be established, A school wide plan will be established, and reviewed and completed each and reviewed and completed each year. year.

• The school wide safety plan will be The school wide safety plan will be developed collaboratively with developed collaboratively with parents, students, educators, law parents, students, educators, law enforcers, and other community enforcers, and other community leaders who represent the racial and leaders who represent the racial and ethnic balance of the community. ethnic balance of the community.

What is a safe school plan?

Components of Safe School PlanComponents of Safe School Plan

• Control Of Campus Accesses • Emergency Communications Procedures• Visitor Screening Procedures• Crisis Response Plan Crisis Response Plan • Review of PoliciesReview of Policies• Adequate Adult Supervision• Ban Forms Of Non-Physical Ban Forms Of Non-Physical

IntimidationIntimidation• Provide Teacher & Student Training Provide Teacher & Student Training

ProgramsPrograms

What is included in a safe school What is included in a safe school plan?plan?

Assessment & Evaluation ToolsAssessment & Evaluation Tools

• Security Assessment Profile •School Bullying Survey• Incident Profiling

What assessments should be included in What assessments should be included in developing a safe school plan?developing a safe school plan?

Identify Specific Responsibilities

• Specific policies and procedures that detail staff members' Specific policies and procedures that detail staff members' responsibilities for security will be developed. responsibilities for security will be developed.

• These responsibilities may include monitoring hallways These responsibilities may include monitoring hallways and restrooms, patrolling parking lots, and providing and restrooms, patrolling parking lots, and providing supervision at before- and after-school activities. supervision at before- and after-school activities.

Who is responsible for keeping the school Who is responsible for keeping the school safe?safe?

Control Of Campus AccessesControl Of Campus Accesses

• Continuing efforts will be made to Continuing efforts will be made to minimize the number of campus minimize the number of campus entrance and exit points used daily.entrance and exit points used daily.

• Access points to school grounds will be Access points to school grounds will be limited and supervised on a regular limited and supervised on a regular basis by individuals who are familiar basis by individuals who are familiar with the student body. with the student body.

• Campus traffic, both pedestrian and Campus traffic, both pedestrian and vehicular, should flow through areas vehicular, should flow through areas that can be easily and naturally that can be easily and naturally supervised. supervised.

• Delivery entrances used by vendors Delivery entrances used by vendors will be checked regularly. will be checked regularly.

How will you control access How will you control access points?points?

• Through responsible planning, many Through responsible planning, many potential problems will be avoided. potential problems will be avoided.

• A good crisis plan will focuses on A good crisis plan will focuses on crisis prevention, preparation, crisis prevention, preparation, management, and resolution. It will management, and resolution. It will also identify community resources also identify community resources and agencies that serve students. and agencies that serve students.

• The crisis response plan will include The crisis response plan will include step-by-step procedures for various step-by-step procedures for various types of crisis situations. types of crisis situations.

How often should school safety plans be How often should school safety plans be reviewed reviewed ??

Establish A Crisis Response Plan

• A school communications network will A school communications network will be established to link classrooms and be established to link classrooms and schoolyard supervisors with the front schoolyard supervisors with the front office or security staff, as well as with office or security staff, as well as with local law enforcement and fire local law enforcement and fire departments.departments.

• The campus will have at least three The campus will have at least three radios with one cellular phone capable radios with one cellular phone capable for use in emergency situations. for use in emergency situations.

• All classrooms will have working All classrooms will have working emergency buzzers or call buttons.emergency buzzers or call buttons.

What can be done to improve What can be done to improve communications?communications?

Emergency CommunicationsEmergency Communications

• Signs directing persons to the office Signs directing persons to the office should be placed in strategic, visible should be placed in strategic, visible locations.locations.

• Visitors should be required to sign Visitors should be required to sign in at the school office, and visibly in at the school office, and visibly display a visitor's badge. display a visitor's badge.

• Teachers and staff will be trained to Teachers and staff will be trained to courteously address all visitors. courteously address all visitors. "May I help you?" is a kind, non-"May I help you?" is a kind, non-threatening way to begin.threatening way to begin.

What methods should be used to screen What methods should be used to screen visitors?visitors?

Uniform Visitor Screening Procedures

• Being able to identify enrolled Being able to identify enrolled students from non-students and students from non-students and guests is critical. An effective guests is critical. An effective picture identification system will picture identification system will enhance the control and enhance the control and management of the campus. management of the campus.

• Authorized parent volunteers and Authorized parent volunteers and school visitors also should display school visitors also should display clearly identifiable badges or name clearly identifiable badges or name tags. tags.

How can the school identify How can the school identify intruders?intruders?

Picture Identification Cards

• Ensure that behavior expectations are clearly communicated.

• School policies will reflect behavior expectations outlined in federal, state, county, and local statutes or ordinances.

• Articulate a clearly defined locker policy. Students and parents will be notified that the lockers are school property.

• Distributing school-owned locks to students requiring that students use only locks for which the school has combinations.

What policies will ensure safe school What policies will ensure safe school practices?practices?

Review the Student Handbook

Limit Contraband

• Put in place when possible guidelines to Put in place when possible guidelines to prevent the opportunity to store prevent the opportunity to store contraband may include: contraband may include:

• allowing only clear plastic or mesh book allowing only clear plastic or mesh book bags, or no book bags at all; eliminating bags, or no book bags at all; eliminating lockers;lockers;

• establishing a coat check area for establishing a coat check area for oversized articles of clothing capable of oversized articles of clothing capable of shielding weapons; shielding weapons;

• giving students two sets of textbooks, one giving students two sets of textbooks, one for home and one for school, to eliminate for home and one for school, to eliminate the need for book bags; and reducing the the need for book bags; and reducing the amount of time for class changes. amount of time for class changes.

What methods can be used to limit What methods can be used to limit contraband?contraband?

• A life skill curriculum that focuses on good A life skill curriculum that focuses on good decision making, responsible citizenship, decision making, responsible citizenship, and conflict resolution.and conflict resolution.

• A curriculum that emphasizes courtesy A curriculum that emphasizes courtesy and thoughtfulness.and thoughtfulness.

• Involve students in planning and Involve students in planning and managing student events, campus managing student events, campus beautification and crime reporting. beautification and crime reporting. Student participation promotes Student participation promotes responsible student development, responsible student development, enabling them to be a part of the solution enabling them to be a part of the solution rather than being perceived as a part of rather than being perceived as a part of the problem. the problem.

What can be done to include students?What can be done to include students?

Student Involvement

• A life skill curriculum that focuses on good A life skill curriculum that focuses on good decision making, responsible citizenship, decision making, responsible citizenship, and conflict resolution.and conflict resolution.

• A curriculum that emphasizes courtesy A curriculum that emphasizes courtesy and thoughtfulness.and thoughtfulness.

• Involve students in planning and Involve students in planning and managing student events, campus managing student events, campus beautification and crime reporting. beautification and crime reporting. Student participation promotes Student participation promotes responsible student development, responsible student development, enabling them to be a part of the solution enabling them to be a part of the solution rather than being perceived as a part of rather than being perceived as a part of the problem. the problem.

What can be done to decrease bullying What can be done to decrease bullying incidents?incidents?

Bully Proofing the School

• Prior to the start of each school year, Prior to the start of each school year, training sessions will be held for all training sessions will be held for all school personnel and security school personnel and security personnel to review school safety personnel to review school safety procedures. procedures.

• School staff will be informed and School staff will be informed and regularly updated on safety plans regularly updated on safety plans through in-service training. through in-service training.

• The training will include not only the The training will include not only the certified staff, but also classified staff, certified staff, but also classified staff, as well as part-time and substitute as well as part-time and substitute employees. employees.

What can be done to increase safety What can be done to increase safety awareness?awareness?

Conduct Annual Safety Training

• Twice a year the school will conduct an Twice a year the school will conduct an annual safety assessment of its safe annual safety assessment of its safe school plan because safe school planning school plan because safe school planning is an ongoing process. is an ongoing process.

• The evaluation component is a The evaluation component is a continuing reality check and refinement continuing reality check and refinement of the safe school actions and attitudes of the safe school actions and attitudes that the team wishes to create. that the team wishes to create.

• The assessment may reveal that The assessment may reveal that additional steps should be taken to additional steps should be taken to improve adult supervision, revise improve adult supervision, revise curricula, or establish new programs.curricula, or establish new programs.

How often should school safety plans be How often should school safety plans be reviewed reviewed ??

Conduct Annual Review