SAFE & DRUG FREE SCHOOLSREPORT

2012 - 2013Presented by:

Brandy GardnerSafe & Drug Free Schools Coordinator

Dr. Peggy J. Rogers, Assistant SuperintendentLynn Wright, Superintendent

Safe & Drug Free Schools Program

The purpose of the Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities Act is to support programs that prevent violence in and around schools; that prevent the illegal use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs; that involve parents and

communities; and that are coordinated with related federal, state, school, and community efforts and resources to foster a safe and drug-free

learning environment that supports student academic achievement.

How information is gatheredEach year our district conducts a comprehensive needs assessment

in order to tailor a set of programs to fit the needs of our schools.

The overall purpose of the comprehensive needs assessment is to identify gaps between the current status of the district and its vision

of where it wants to be.

One area that is assessed is SCHOOL SAFETY.

What questions were asked

• Certified faculty, students and parents were asked several questions on the needs assessment surveys dealing with school safety.

• The following questions were asked:

– Certified Staff: Check 3 favorable aspects of your school. School safety was one aspect.

– Students: I feel safe at this school

– Parents: My child is safe at school

Certified Staff Results

27.40%

9.70%

Favorable

Not Favorable

• 390 Certified Staff took the survey• 107 (27.4%) selected safety as a favorable

aspect of their school.• 38 (9.7%) selected safety as an unfavorable

aspect of their school.

Grades 2-5 Results1228

76 153

0200400600800

10001200

I feel safe at this school

YesNoNot Sure

• 1457 students in grades 2-5 took the survey1,228 (84.3%) feel safe at school76 (5.2%) did not feel safe at school153 (10.5%) were not sure if they felt safe at school

Grades 6-12 Results

955 983

134

401

0200400600800

1000

I feel safe at school

Agree

Somewhat Agree

Somewhat Disagree

Disagree

• 2473 students in grades 6-12 took the survey955 (38.6%) felt safe at school983 (39.7%) felt somewhat safe at school134 (5.4%) felt somewhat unsafe at school401 (16.2%) felt unsafe at school

Parent Results763

329

16 560

100200300400500600700800

My child is safe at school

Agree

Somewhat Agree

Somewhat Disagree

Disagree

• 1164 parents took the survey 763 (65.5%) said their child was safe at school 329 (28.3%) said their child was somewhat safe at school 16 (1.4%) said their child was somewhat unsafe at school 56 (4.8%) said their child was unsafe at school

MSIS STUDENT DISCIPLINE REPORT

The following number of students were suspended/expelled for the following:2011 – 2012

5000 Students

35 = FIGHTING (.70%)

4 = ASSAULT (.08%)

11 = WEAPON POSSESSION (.22%)

13 = ALCOHOL/DRUG POSSESSION (.26%)

7 = VANDALISM (.14%)

1 = DISORDERLY CONDUCT (.02%)

0 = BOMB THREATS (0%)

2 = GANG RELATED INCIDENT (.04%)

2012 – 20135071 Students

32 = FIGHTING (.63%)

5 = ASSAULT (.09%)

8 = WEAPON POSSESSION (.16%)

17 = ALCOHOL/DRUG POSSESSION (.34%)

0 = VANDALISM (0%)

3 = DISORDERLY CONDUCT (.06%)

1 = BOMB THREATS (.02%)

2 = GANG RELATED INCIDENT (.04%)

What Can We Do

In an effort to decrease violence in our schools, we need to have the following:

• Activities designed to foster school norms against violence, aggression and bullying.

• Skills training based on a strong theoretical foundation.

• A comprehensive approach that includes family, students, teachers, and community

Parental Involvement

The Lowndes County School District believes that without the help of parents, we will continue to fall short in our goals to have safe schools where we can educate our children.

In an effort to increase parental awareness, each school in the district has a parent coordinator that uses the PRACTICAL PARENT EDUCATION CURRICULUM to conduct workshops throughout the year on issues such as: bullying, gangs, drug abuse and violence.

• Practical Parent Education (PPE) was founded on the principles of family systems and the ages and stages of children and addresses issues such as developing children’s confidence, self-esteem, motivation, trust, responsibility and social skills. The program also addresses emerging needs such as bullying, truancy, gangs, and social media.

• The PPE program is evidence-informed using the best available research and information about best practices to be responsive to families’ cultural backgrounds, community values and individual preferences. PPE works with schools to creatively determine and implement ideas about “How to Connect with Families.” Everything is aimed at giving parents the skills and the motivation to be actively engaged in their child’s academic success.

• A group of experienced Education Consultants provides the professional development and workshop training that prepares our parent coordinators to implement the PPE program easily. Both the curriculum and the professional development fulfill Title I, Part A Guidelines.

What is Practical Parent Education

What’s to come for the following year

• Schools will revise their crisis management plans in an effort to combat school safety issues.

• School security will enforce the rules of the schools at all times.

• Safe & Drug Free committee members will work with the parent coordinators to conduct parent workshops on school safety.

UNSAFE SCHOOL CHOICE OPTION POLICY

This policy states that each state receiving funds under this Act shall establish and implement a statewide policy requiring that a student attending a “persistently dangerous public school, as determined by the State, or who becomes a victim of a violent criminal offense, be allowed to attend a safe school within the local education agency.

ALL SCHOOLS IN THE LOWNDES COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT ARE SAFE

SCHOOLS!