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

www.copsync911.com

"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

Bradley Cruicebecruice@lpssonline.com

337-521-7093