Student Safety Committee, Get the Students On Board

DON'T FORGET STUDENTS ARE STAKEHOLDERS IN YOUR SCHOOL PREPAREDNESS NETWORK...THEY ARE VITAL TO THE PROCESS.

At the school where I work, we have a School Safety Committee which has a cross representation of all different  adult stakeholders from the building: Principal, Housemasters, School Resource Officer, School Security, Union Rep, Teachers, Main Office Secretarial Rep, School Psychologist, Facilities Manager, etc. We focus on an all hazard approach to safety and security in accordance with a NIMs approach. We meet monthly with a monthly theme and have a templated process. We came to the realization that we had no direct student input in the process, so we are developing a Student School Safety Committee. I will be the group mentor / facilitator but it will be a student led effort and the outputs from their meeting will be inputs to the School Safety Committee that meets monthly and vice versa. It is interesting in that a student's perspective on safety, security, and preparedness offer some unique perspectives. More to follow, but it is a a concept other schools that do not directly include students in their process to look at.

SCHOOL PREPAREDNESS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS DONE "TO" THE STUDENTS TO KEEP THEM SAFE AND SECURE, THEY ARE KEY MEMBERS OF THAT PROCESS AND OFTEN ARE THE FIRST LINE OF SCHOOL PREPAREDNESS. 

  

Effects of Winter & Cold Weather on Schools

SEVERE AND / OR EXTENDED COLD WEATHER CREATES UNIQUE HAZARDS

Being in the Northeast, we certainly get snow in the winter but this year it has been worse than ever in the volume and duration of snow and extremely low temperatures. Extreme temperatures, heavy volumes of snow, ice, melting & re-freezing have an effect on school operations, students and faculty, the facility, and the school incident management process. For example, an evacuation for a fire in freezing temperatures can cause cold weather injuries on students within a very short amount of time.

Here are some observations or points for discussion concerning adverse effects of cold weather:

• The freezing, melting, and refreezing caused the earth under the concrete to swell not allowing three external doors to open which would be used in an evacuation.
• This was forwarded to school safety committee and adjustments to evacuation were made until the ground thaws in warmer temperatures.
• Melting snow and the ensuing drainage becomes new ice the following day following evening low temperatures.
• Uncleared sidewalks or narrowly cleared sidewalks (due to weeks of snow) resulted in students walking in the road to and from school.
• Tall snowdrifts create dangerous blindspots in parking lots, entrances and exits to schools, and on numerous street corners, coupled with pedestrians walking in the roads is a bad combination.
• Heavy accumulations of snow on roofs can cause damage or even a roof collapse.
• Melting and falling Ice bridges and large icicles from roof can injure people.
• A school evacuation (fire, bomb, etc) = relocation to another school ASAP (As Soon As Possible).
• Using school buses as warming shelters until students are relocated is an improvised option, if you can initiate this fairly rapidly.
• Budget cuts affected the number of available snow plow drivers or overtime permitting school parking lots to be cleared to support school operations resulting in some school closures.

Risk Management & the Injured Cheerleader's Lawsuit

YOU CAN'T MANAGE RISK IF YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON IN YOUR SCHOOL OR DURING SCHOOL SPONSORED ACTIVITIES...???

 

Background. In Feb 2011 at Bridgeport, CT, the family of a 12 year old Wilton girl who suffered permanent injuries in March 2009 during cheerleading practice has filed a negligence suit against her coach and a youth football league. The lawsuit alleges that the cheerleading coach and the Wilton Youth Football league permitted her and her teammates to engage in a manuever beyond their capabilities. While their is no present indication the lawsuit is being filed against the school or school district, it none-the-less brings up natural questions for school leadership, athletic directors, coaches, after school club supervisors, and anyone affiliated with extra-curricular activities.

 

 

 

Discussion.  Quality Supervision, Safety Awareness, and Technical Competence are dangerous capabilities for school leaders and parents to ASSUME. Even with the best of intentions on the part of school leaders and parents who are part of the supervisory process and the adults who teach, coach, or mentor these extracurricular activities, activity risk management (RM) must be a part of the process. Using the military template of Operational Risk Management (ORM) provides a quick template.

1. Identify the Risks in the Activities That Take Place.
2. Rate the Risks (Low, Medium, High)
3. Identify the Steps To Take to Mitigate the Risks

Points for Consideration:

• Many school leaders do not know what activities are taking place at their school on a daily basis?
• The don't possess a tool (detailed school calendar with activities & events) to manage the information.
• This tool allows them to prioritize their supervisory focus for selected activities.
• Many school leaders and extracurricular adult supervisors have not analyzed the RISKs associated with the school or school sponsored activities that they will be held liable for.
• If they haven't analyzed the Activity RISKs then they haven't synthesized steps to MITIGATE those RISKs. 
• If you think your school has a handle on managing RISK, here are a few sample questions you may wan't to ask:
• Who specifically checks to ensure the sports physicals and or health risk screening forms are complete and read by coaches, and medical professionals?
• Just because a student has a sports physical doesn't mean the coaches know what is on it in the way of possible medical issues.
• Is there a list of the daily medications required to be taken by the students in your school?
• Who is tracking to ensure these medications are being taken?
• Who tracks the weather during football summer workouts at the school, before school starts?
• What are the guidelines for duration of practice and cooling off players during hot weather workouts?
• What is the concussion policy in regards to sports? Are coaches, players, and parents educated about this?
• Does your band Color Guard or JROTC spin or throw and catch drill rifles?
• Has their been an act of violence at the school you are visiting for a sporting event?
• Are their cheerleading or dance team manuevers which are not recommended? 
• Who is monitoring the weight room during off season and season workouts?
• Does your school have an AED (Automatic External Defibrillator) available?

YOU "MAKE YOUR LUCK" BY BEING CONCERNED ABOUT SCHOOL SAFETY AND SECURITY, BEING AWARE OF WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE ASSOCIATED RISKS AT SCHOOL, AND CREATING A MINDSET IN EVERYONE (School Leaders, Athletic Directors, School Nurse, Parents, Students, Coaches, and Club Supervisors) TO MITIGATE THOSE RISKS.

School Janitor Fatally Shoots Elementary Principal in North California

On Feb 2, 2011, a janitor fatally shot an elementary school principal in Placerville, Calif.The shooting occurred at about 10:30 a.m. (Pacific Time) in the principal's office at Schnell Elementary School. The janitor, identified as John Luebbers, 43, fled the scene on foot to his home, where he was arrested. Principal Sam LaCara, 50, died at Marshall Hospital from a single gunshot wound to the torso. The motive for the shooting remained unclear but the two apparently had a dispute. Some parents described Luebbers as "grumpy" and "rude" toward some students.




Janitor John Leubbers

No one else was hurt or threatened with violence in the incident, but the shooting prompted a security lockdown at the school that lasted for at least two hours. Buses eventually arrived at the school to transport students to the El Dorado County Fairgrounds, where they will be reunited with parents.
Parents said LaCara did a good job at the school. LaCara was the married father of three daughters and a respected school administrator known for his sense of humor and love of sports. He lived near Carmichael. "It's a tragedy for Placerville and our entire society," said at an afternoon news conference. The El Dorado County office of Education said Thursday classes at all three Placerville district schools are canceled.

Points for Consideration:

• Workplace violence between adults or between adults and students is a reality. Not all violence that takes place at schools is between students.
• In times of budget cuts and job layoffs, sometime educational leaders can be put in situations where they have to eliminate positions, programs, or terminate personnel because of poor performance. 
• Employers who have to terminate employees need to plan for worst case scenario because an untrained individual reacting to an emotionally distraught individual or an irate and potentially violent individual can easily lose control of the situation.
• Having the School Resource Officer or School Security aware of the termination meeting is a prudent measure.
• Employees can be experiencing stress in their lives or be in crisis, and educational leaders and co-workers may not be aware of this or the volatility that can occur. There is such a focus on the right of privacy that folks forget about public safety or workplace safety. 
• How do school administrators become aware of employees who may have a mental disorder or who may be developing one?
• In reduced budgetary times, educational leaders are often having to task employees to do more with less help or resources. This can generate stress in the workforce and must be a consideration in managing organizational morale.

PREPAREDNESS, NOT PARANOIA

Information Technology & Identity Theft Concerns & Information Assurance

Community College Loses Data Device with Student and Worker Info

October 21, Knoxville News Sentinel – (Tennessee) Roane State data device with student, worker info missing. A data storage device containing the names and Social Security numbers of more than 10,000 people has been missing since October 12 when it was stolen from a Roane State Community College employee’s car while it was parked off-campus in Knox County, college officials announced today. The college has issued an “ID alert” on its Web site, sent letters to anyone who may be affected by the theft and has notified major consumer reporting agencies. The device was used for work-related purposes. “Immediately after the theft, we did not want to release information that would interfere with the investigation,” said Roane State vice president. “Once it became clear an arrest, or the recovery of the device, was not imminent, we informed those affected as quickly as possible.” The device contained the names and Social Security numbers of 10,941 people, including 1,194 current or former employees and 9,747 current or former students. The device also contained the Social Security numbers only, but no names, for 5,036 current or former students. No academic records were on the device. The community college has posted more information here, www.roanestate.edu/idalert. The college has also set up a hot line to handle questions from those affected by the theft. The number is 865-882-4688 or toll-free 1-866-462-7722, extension 4688.

October 4, Newsday – (New York) E-mail error sends out students’ Social Security numbers. Suffolk Community College has agreed to pay a company for the next year to monitor the credit of 300 students whose last names and Social Security numbers were mistakenly listed in an attachment to an e-mail sent to those students last month. The college vice president, said Sunday there is “no indication” that any of the personal information has been misused, but added that the college decided “it was the right step to take the extra precaution” to minimize students’ risk of identity theft. The error, said the vice president, occurred late in the day September 17 and was discovered the next morning. She said college officials immediately shut down the server and took steps to retrieve unopened messages and attachments. She could not say how much of the personal information was recovered or whether anyone was disciplined for the security breach. The vice president declined to comment on whether the college would be liable if student’s information was misused, saying such circumstances are “conjecture” at this point. The same day the college learned of the problem, the vice president said school officials mailed a letter to inform students of the problem and alert them to immediate steps they could take to protect their personal data, including registering an alert with the three companies that monitor credit information.

Points for Consideration:

• Does your department, school, or district have information and IT device controls and protocols for handling (physical, virtual, & human) and safe storage?
• Should this personal information become, lost, stolen, or compromised does your organization know what to do? What specifics steps would you take should an information compromise occur?
• Getting rid of old cell phones, zip disks, CDROMs, and computers that may contain personal information need to be considered when discarding items.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CAN BE A DOUBLE EDGED SWORD IF YOU AREN'T AWARE OF THE RISK.

When Tragedy Strikes A Community, Young Students Are Effected

WHEN TRAGEDY STRIKES OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL, WHO IS THINKING ABOUT THE EFFECT ON OUR KIDS IN SCHOOL?

TRAGIC EVENT: In Erie, Pennsylvania, a 29 yr old man shot and killed a 27 yr old woman and their two daughters (ages 4 and 7) in his home before killing himself.

Who in Erie County has considered the effects of these deaths upon their fellow school children? Who in a community coordinates with schools when a tragedy outside of school occurs? What about the students who know the young girls that were killed? Reacting to a community tragedy and determining the impact upon your student population immediately puts a school leadership team into the RECOVERY PHASE of the Emergency Management Process.

Post Tragedy Intervention For a School /School District:

• Designate someone to track incidents which occur that could effect our young students.
• Have that designee discuss the incident with school leadership and the guidance department and school psychologist to develop a strategy for crisis counseling.
• Identify and solicit for students effected by the tragedy to determine the scale and scope
• Review the resources available for counseling those students designated as requiring counseling.
• Develop counseling courses of action:
• Individual student counseling 
• Group or class counseling 
• Class Discussion with scripted counseling points
• School Announcement or Assembly
• Memorial Service

Someone needs to be looking out for the students when tragedy (fires, violence, accidents, crimes, etc.)  occurs in our communities. What are we doing for them when they come to school?

 

15 Yr Old Student Holds Class Hostage & Then Kills Himself in Wisconsin

HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT TAKES CLASSROOM HOSTAGE, FIRES SHOTS, KILLS HIMSELF

Nov 29, 2010   Marinette, Wisconsin. A 15 yr old student (Sam Hengel) from Marinette High School went on a bathroom break during his 6th period social studies class. He retrieved a backpack from his locker with 2 semi-automatic pistols, 200 rounds of ammunition, and a pair of knives. He entered the classroom and held 23 classmates and his teacher (Valerie Burd) hostage. He immediately fired three shots, blasting a hole in a wall and tearing apart a film projector. No one else in the school apparently recognized the sound of the shots as gunfire. 

Students talked to Sam Hengel about everything from hunting and fishing to his favorite movies in an attempt to keep him calm. Hengel told the teacher to post a note on the door telling seventh-period students to report to the library. As a result, no one realized the class was in danger until about a half-hour after school ended, when a man came to the school office looking for his daughter. Principal Corry Lambie determined the last class the girl attended was Western Civilization and went to the room to find the door locked. When Lambie unlocked the door, Hengel pointed his gun at him and told him to leave. Hengel allowed the girl to go with Lambie.

The standoff dragged on for four more hours, with teacher acting as a go-between for Hengel and police. A SWAT team stormed the room after Hengel fired three shots about 8 p.m., destroying the classroom phone and hitting a computer. Hengel shot himself as officers reached him. He died the next morning at 10:44 am. The hostages were released until 8 pm.

TIMELINE OF THE INCIDENT:

1:30 pm 6th period classes start. 26 students report to the Western Civilization class taught by Valerie Burd (Rm A111). Some time during 6th period, Sam Hengel requests to go to the restroom and returns with a duffel bag containing weapons. Holds classmates and teacher hostage.

2:10 pm transition to 7th period classes. Students reporting to Mrs. Burd's classroom see note on door instructing them to report to the library as previously planned.

3:12 pm The school day ends.

3:40 pm A  parent who has been trying to reach his daughter to pick her up arrives at the high school office. Principal Lambie reviewed student daily attendance records to determine that the student was present at 6th period but not 7th. The same was true for a friend of that student.

3:45 pm Principal Lambie goes to Rm A111 and found the room dark with the door locked. He unlocked the door and entered the room. Sam Hengel pointed a weapon at him and told him to leave. The student whose father had come to the school left the room also.

3:48 pm Principal Lambie calls 9-1-1 to report the incident. The building was evacuated and Room A111 was isolated.

3:51 pm First law enforcement officer arrives on scene. Additional law enforcement and emergency medical continue to arrive.

7:40 pm Five (5) students are allowed to leave the classroom after requesting to use the restroom.

8:03 pm Gunshots are heard in the classroom and law enforcement personnel breach the door. The suspect shoots himself as authorities approach. Remaining students and the teacher are safely evacuated. During the night, an explosive detection canine conducts a safety sweep of the building and investigators collect evidence.

SEE DISCUSSION IN A FUTURE BLOG