The “bullying summit” held by the U.S. Department of Education this past week drew attention, praise, opposition, and spirited debate depending upon who you talked with about it. As legislators, bureaucrats, educators, media and others jump on the “bullying bandwagon,” what constitutes a more comprehensive and balanced school safety plan? I revisited my July 9, 2009, […]
Why a Proposed Federal School Safety Grant Does Not “Replace” the Eliminated Safe and Drug Free Schools Program
In a local Cleveland news interview last Thursday, I spoke about the elimination of the state grant component of the Safe and Drug Free Schools program. As the public attention on school budget cuts center around teacher layoffs, reductions in transportation, and elimination of sports programs, cuts to school safety funding are going on behind-the-scenes […]
Safe and Drug Free Schools Grant Elimination Hits Schools Hard
The state grant component of the decade-old federal Safe and Drug Free Schools Program has been eliminated from the latest federal budget, costing many schools as of July 1st their primary funds marked specifically for school safety. The program was a formula grant drug and violence prevention program which passed money through state education departments to local […]
Pop Quiz on School Safety: School Transportation Needs During a Crisis
If your school transportation director, superintendent, or principal is asked these three questions about school transportation crisis preparedness issues, could they immediately answer each one? If you had to mobilize school buses at 10:45am to simultaneously evacuate your three largest schools, what is the response time from when the request is made until the first bus shows up […]
Caught on Camera: Best Practices for CCTV Systems (FBI)
The first and best line of defense in school safety is a well-trained, highly-alert staff and student body. Any security technology must be viewed as a supplement to, but not a substitute for, a more comprehensive approach to school safety. Having security technology is one thing. Having effective security technology, and using it effectively, is […]
School Safety Quote: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
The true measure of a man is not how he behaves in moments of comfort and convenience but how he stands at times of controversy and challenges. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. While this quote is attributed to Dr. King decades ago, it is very applicable today as we look at the state of […]
School Safety Leader: Matt McDevitt
Matt McDevitt is a school board member who does not just talk about school security. He has served on the District Security Committee as Chairperson since 1997. As an elected member of the Pennsauken Board of Education in Pennsauken, New Jersey since 1995, Matt has served terms as President and Vice-President of the board. […]
Protecting Children During Disasters: America Unprepared
“The most vulnerable Americans in the most vulnerable settings are made more vulnerable because of government inaction.” Mark Shriver, Senior Vice President, U.S. Programs, Save the Children This quote from a recently released document entitled, “A National Report Card on Protecting Children During Disasters,” pretty much says it all. In fairness, the report reflects movement […]
Are School Security Plans Ready for School Board Meeting Disruptions?
The Wake County (NC) school district spent $20,960 since December for increased security at school board meetings because of concerns about protesters. The conflicts involve protesters opposing the elimination of the district’s socioeconomic diversity policy involving student assignments. Large crowds lead the district to hire off-duty Raleigh police and private security officers. Previously, the district had no armed security at board […]
School Security Drills Mandatory for New Jersey Schools
One monthly security drill and one fire drill will be mandatory for New Jersey schools effective November 1, 2010. This law was passed back in January of this year. The New Jersey Department of Education issued guidance July 14 according to the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association. Schools must work with local emergency responders to […]