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How administrators can reinforce school safety & security

by Paul Kazlauskas

School administrators, including principals, district-level administrators, superintendents, and school board members, have a tremendous responsibility when it comes to school security and safety. School security and safety starts with strong leadership. These school administrators should take precautions to prevent crisis and act decisively if the unimaginable occurs. They must be responsible for such things ranging from enforcing a zero-tolerance policy for weapons on campus to devising a policy of visitor management for when visitors/parents/volunteers/contactors visit the school. They must also develop protocols between law enforcement and the school about ways to share information on at-risk youth and enforce such things as dress codes. A school administrator’s actions in the above areas (and everything in between) go a long way in determining how secure a school is.

In addition to actually enforcing policies and procedures, school administrators must communicate their plans to parents and the student body. The details of the plan and their delivery of the material will go a long way towards making the school and community at-large feel safer. According to the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), there are a number of steps that school administrators can take to reinforce the fact that schools are safe environments and increase student/adult comfort level…

1. Write a letter to parents explaining the school safety policies and crisis prevention efforts and cite statistics that less than one percent of violent deaths are “school associated.”

2. Be a visible, welcoming presence at school, greeting students and parents and visiting classrooms.

3. Issue a press release about the school district efforts to maintain safe and caring schools through clear behavioral expectations, positive behavior interventions and supports, and crisis planning and preparedness.

4. Conduct a formal review of all school safety policies and procedures to ensure that emerging school safety issues are adequately covered in current school crisis plans and emergency response procedures. (Such reviews should be conducted at least annually.)

5. Review communication systems within the school district and with community responders. This should also address how and where parents will be informed in the event of an emergency.

6. Connect with community partners (emergency responders, area hospitals, victim’s assistance, etc.) to review emergency response plans and to discuss any short-term needs that may be obvious in response to the current crisis.

7. Provide crisis training and professional development for staff based upon needs assessment.

8. Highlight violence prevention programs and curriculum currently being taught in school. Emphasize the efforts of the school to teach students alternatives to violence including peaceful conflict resolution and positive interpersonal relationship skills. Cite specific examples such as Second Step Violence Prevention, bully proofing, or other positive interventions and behavioral supports.

Click here for the complete article which includes school violence prevention measures to highlight and what to say to students.

Related topic: Visitor Management Protocol should be updated regularly

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Posted on 6/9/2015