Post on 25-Dec-2015
WALKING THE TIGHTROPE
Safety and Security
BRADLEY CRUICEMBA-MHM, BSN, RN
Director Health and WellnessLafayette Parish School System
• Health Services • Mental Health Services• Child Welfare and Attendance• School Climate Coach• 504 and Child Psychologist• Crisis Intervention Teachers• School Resource Officers• School Safety Officers
LPSS Health and Wellness
It is the mission of the
Health and Wellness Division
to improve access to
quality physical and mental health care,
to enhance academic achievement by
removing barriers to learning.
Mission Statement
Health and Wellness Teams
Members consist of:• Administrator• Nurse• Social Worker• School Counselor* - Team Leader• Pupil Appraisal Services• Teacher of record• Parent • Student (when appropriate)• Other academic professionals (as needed)
• Enhance the implementations of a regular ed initiatives• Expedite communication among various school staff• Provide support to teachers• Parental input and feedback within the decision-making
process • Expedite educational interventions for students• First school contact for Section 504 disabilities• Screening vehicle for referral to Pupil Appraisal Services • Review all students being considered for retention
Health & Wellness Team Major Functions
SAFE and SOUND:A Sandy Hook Initiative
Michele Gay
Josephine Grace
Shootings Since Newton
74 school shootings have occurred since the December, 2012 massacre
CRISIS
• An unstable or crucial time or state of affairs in which a decisive change is impending, especially one with the distinct possibility of a highly undesirable outcome
• Additionally, Webster notes that “crisis” comes from the Greek word meaning “decision”
(Webster’s Ninth Collegiate Dictionary, 1987)
CRISIS TEAM
CRISIS TEAM
• Purpose• Key functions
– Develop plan– Consult and provide support– Provide direct services– Make referrals– Monitor situation
• Consider many factors– Internal resources– Past experience– Physical plant/layout
CRISIS TEAM
“Children and youth rely on and find great comfort in the adults who protect them.”
U.S. DOE
CRISIS TEAM - Members• Principal• Assistant Principals• Administrative Assistants• School Resource Officer• School security personnel• Guidance Counselors• Faculty Member• School Psychologist• Social Worker• School Nurse• Maintenance Personnel NASRO.org
CRISIS TEAM - Members
Administrative Assistants• Report immediately to administrator or police• Prepare to answer questions:
– Are there hostages– Suspect armed– Type of weapon– Location of incident– Description of intruder(s)
• Notification of staff & students• Key(s) distribution• Answer incoming calls
CRISIS TEAM - Members
CRISIS MANAGEMENT PLANS
• Need to address a range of events and hazards:– Natural disasters (earthquake, tornado, hurricane, flood)– Severe weather– Fires– Chemical or hazardous material spills– Bus crashes– School shootings– Bomb threats– Medical emergencies– Student or staff deaths (suicide, homicide, unintentional, or natural)– Acts of terror or war– Outbreaks of disease or infections
“It is Better to have a
Crisis Plan with No Crisis
than a Crisis with No Plan.”
Unknown
THE SEQUENCE OF CRISISMANAGEMENT
• Mitigation/Prevention • Preparedness • Response • Recovery
MITIGATION/PREVENTION
• Schools have no control external events– Can take actions to minimize or mitigate the impact
• Schools cannot always control internal events– Can take actions to reduce the likelihood
• Improve the culture and climate of their campuses– Institute policies– PBIS– Implement violence prevention programs
• LSSSI• A.R.T.
– Take other steps
PREPAREDNESS
• Rapid, coordinated, effective response• Investment of time and resources• Tailored to own unique characteristics• School district - certain commonalities
Practice does not make perfect.
Only perfect practice makes perfect.
Vince Lombardi
"Safety first at Sandy Hook... It's a beautiful day for our annual evacuation drill!"
PREPAREDNESSUnique Circumstances
• Challenging locations– Gym– Outdoors– Parking lots
• Substitutes, volunteers, visitors• Special needs students
– Handicap– Deaf– Immobile
RESPONSE
• A crisis is the time to follow the crisis plan, not to make a plan from scratch.
LPSSCrisis Management Plan
CODES“LOCKDOWN”
“EVACUATE”
“SHELTER IN PLACE”
“ALL CLEAR”
“LOCKDOWN”
• Used when there is an imminent threat of injury or bodily harm within the building or on the campus grounds
• Any staff member who encounters a threat announces “lockdown” over PA system (or by any means possible) and directs all students, staff, and visitors to follow lockdown procedures
• If possible: Designate Crisis Team members check bathrooms and halls for each building
• Escort students to ____ (provide site specific information)
“EVACUATE”
• Designated staff member calls 911, Superintendent or District Crisis Team member, and the designated relocation center
• Crisis Team called to office• Principal issues evacuation to designated site• Principal determines whether evacuation is by bus or
walking• Students and staff follow fire procedures and routes to
evacuate buildings• Maps should be posted in all classrooms indicating
primary and secondary routes and holding areas
“EVACUATE” (cont)
• If the situation warrants, custodian/designee turns off all lights, electricity, gas, water faucets, and heating systems.
• Crisis Team ensures all students out of building including bathrooms/halls
• Principal or designee locks all entrances to building after runners report all safe (students and staff)
• Designated crisis team member takes evacuation supplies to relocation site
“SHELTER IN PLACE”
• Examples: Tornado; Chemical Spill; Hazardous Materials Release; Biological Contaminant
• Principal announces that all building occupants will shelter in place
• Go to safe area• Teachers close doors and windows• Secure outer perimeter doors• Everyone must move away from doors and windows
“ALL CLEAR”
• All persons must remain in safe areas until notified by Principal or emergency responders of “all clear”
RECOVERY
• Return to learning and restore the infrastructure• Focus on students and the physical plant• Take as much time as needed• School staff can be trained • Provide a caring and supportive school environment
“Allow students to talk about what they felt and experienced during the traumatic
event.”
LAGNIAPPE
practice, Practice, PRACTICE
“Knowing how to respond quickly and efficiently in a crisis is critical to ensuring the safety of our schools and students. The midst of a crisis is not the time to start figuring out who ought to do what. At that moment, everyone involved – from top to bottom – should know the drill and know each other.”
Margaret Spellings
ENACT the PLAN
FIRST RESPONDERS
• Teachers as first responders• Life saving skills• Included in FEMA’s grouping of first responders• Remain calm
RELATIONSHIPS
“In the post incident reports of
most school shootings, it is often
noted that someone knew or even
many people knew or suspected
something, but they simply failed to
report it to the right people.
www.NASRO.org
MENTAL HEALTH
“The Office of Child Advocate concluded that Lanza’s parents, education team and others missed signs of how deeply
troubled he was and opportunities to steer him toward more appropriate treatment.”
REPORT IT
“It is important to remind students that they are keeping each other safe, and safety is
always more important than silence.”
NASRO.org
COMMUNICATION
• Common terminology across a district• Identify several modes of communication
– Internal – External
• Adequate supplies of communication gear• Appropriate individuals have access• Create communication plans to notify families• Keep staff informed
COMMUNICATION
• “Robo Calls”– Give as much information as possible– Notify families of action being taken
• “Remind 101”• Google docs
"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them."
John F. Kennedy
THANK YOU!
QUESTIONS?
RESOURCES• “A Critical Incident: What to do in the First 20 Minutes” --- National Institute of
Justice• “It Can Happen here” --- National Institute of Justice• Lafayette Parish School System Crisis Management Plan www.lpssonline.org• “Practical Information on Crisis Planning: A Guide for Schools and
Communities” --- The Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools – U.S. Department of Education
• Readiness and Emergency management for Schools http://rems.ed.gov/• Safe and Sound --- http://www.safeandsoundschools.org/• “Sandy Hook School Shooting: Lessons Learned for School Administrators &
Teachers --- Omni Publishing Co.• “School Plan Generator” --- National Institute of Justice• “School Resource Officers Management Course --- www.NASRO.org• U.S. DOE Office of Safe and Healthy Students
http://www2.ed.gov/admins/lead/safety/emergencyplan/index.html