As educators, especially those with graduate and doctoral degrees, you have been exposed to “continuous improvement” and “improvement science” models as a foundation for strengthening curriculum, instruction, and school leadership. But are you applying continuous improvement models to school safety, security, and emergency preparedness, as well? Continuous improvement models and school safety In Learning to […]
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School safety assessments: A career-saving action for new and experienced superintendents
Recently I was speaking with a superintendent who is a client and a good friend. She mentioned that one of the best things she did in her first year as superintendent was have a safety and security assessment performed. Placing school safety at the top of the superintendent’s priority list The assessment was not on […]
School leaders must be educated consumers on safety assessment consultants
“You’ve got to know when to hold’em. Know when to fold’em. Know when to walk away and know when to run.” This advice from country singer, Kenny Rogers, makes good guidance for ethical school security consultants as well as school boards, superintendents and other central office administrators or school heads seeking school safety assessment consultation […]
Select school security consultants as if lives depend upon it
How can school superintendents, school board members and business managers distinguish credible school security consultants from a growing pool of overnight experts and opportunistic, less-qualified individuals offering school safety services? This question was posed to me by a veteran local and state-level education administrator concerned by the growing number of people offering school security assessment […]
Bibb County school crime, discipline data questioned with multiple safety reports
The Bibb County (GA) school district remains under fire as two versions of a school safety assessment consultant’s report, along with state safety incident data, bring into question the district’s accuracy and consistency in reporting fights and weapons. The Macon Telegraph on Tuesday ran a story entitled, “Bibb school fights, weapons reported tallies differ widely.” The report claims […]
Draft school safety reports jeopardize integrity of security consultants, school boards
School security consultants with strong integrity will lose some jobs here and there. But in the long haul, they will retain their integrity and their credibility, and their school district clients will likely do so as well. “Draft” school safety assessment reports can trigger questions on security consultant, school leader credibility One of my long-standing […]
How to Make Schools Safer During Tight Budget Times
Tight budgets are no excuse for failing to be proactive with school safety. Parents will forgive educators if their school’s test scores go down. Parents will be much less forgiving if their children are hurt in an incident which could have been prevented or better managed. Attorneys and the media will be equally unforgiving. So […]
Assessing Your School’s Security
The next time you head onto your school campus, take a look at the site through a different lens. Instead of looking at your school from your eyes as a school employee or as a parent, look as if you are a school safety consultant: Campus perimeter: Is there a defined perimeter distinguishing school property […]