As an administrator in education today, it is easy for us to get lost in all the new initiatives, test scores and other accountability measures, not to mention lack of funding in areas that cost schools far more than it did five years ago. With these items that we face every day, it is very easy for us to lose focus on THE most important need of all students and staff in our buildings – School Safety.
I will be the first to admit that I am far from an expert in school safety. However, I will tell you that I think differently about this topic today than I did 5 years ago. Like every human who has anything to do with the education of our students, recent events like the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, CT has caused me to think more about what we can do in our building to assure a safer environment. This is something that I feel certain we all have in common. Our hearts and minds privately mourn for those individuals lost on that tragic day in December 2012. At the same time, we honor those in that community who have picked themselves up and are coping with the loss of loved ones while carrying forward with their duties.
Another reason I can say that I think differently about school safety today is my connection to the newly-created KASA School Safety Council and especially the work of Jon Akers, Executive Director and the support personnel at the Kentucky Center for School Safety (KCSS). My wish is that every administrator in the commonwealth could experience the contacts that I have made in these past two years and have at their disposal the resources that are available to help schools in the area of School Safety. The truth is; there is no reason why administrators in our state cannot experience the same – here is where you can get started:
- In December of 2012, our district had arranged for Hancock Co. High School and one other school in our district to have a Safety Audit. Any district in the state can request this through KCSS. Through the course of this audit, my staff and I embraced the process and listened to any suggestions that were given. The Audit Team was very thorough and provided us detailed feedback in the form of commendations as well as recommendations for improvement. Both feedback items were provided in the areas of Procedures and Facilities.
- Even for those who are not pursuing the Safety Audit route, every administrator must do themselves a favor by accessing the KCSS Website (www.kycss.org). This website is nothing short of phenomenal in providing any resource that is needed in the form of PPT presentations, brochures, handouts, etc. on any topic that you can associate with school safety. If you have never accessed this website, please do your students and staff the favor – there is nothing I can say to give this multi-layered and multi-faceted website the credit that it truly deserves.
I fully realize procedures for and action steps taken to provide safety in our schools is as different as the communities in which we live. However, one consistency that all schools and administrators share is lack of time. “Re-inventing the wheel” never was a good idea and not even a consideration for today. For this reason alone, take the time to visit the KY Center for School Safety website. You will be amazed at what the site has to offer schools, parents and students. You can be assured to find something within this website that your school can use to help improve the overall safety of your staff and students.
If nothing else, feel free to contact members of the KCSS staff, including Jon Akers. Any time myself or any individual in the Hancock Co. District has contacted KCSS, the staff has been most helpful by providing us information needed or by pointing us in the right direction. I can honestly say that Hancock County High School is a safer environment today, due to the help and suggestions from KCSS. Anything we can do to take one step, one procedure, one facility-improvement or one school climate improvement is a win-win for our students…
Those of us who are members of the KASA School Safety Council also ask that you contact us with any questions or suggestions that you may have.
Sincerely,
Rick Lasley, Principal – Hancock Co. High School
School Safety Council - KASA