3036

School Safety and Security

In order to fulfill its obligation to provide a safe and secure learning environment, the Board of Education has adopted this School Safety and Security Policy. Although the district will take reasonable steps to protect students and staff, no entity can provide complete safety and security at all times. This policy does not make the district a guarantor of the safety of students, staff or patrons.

I. General Safety and Security

a. NDE Rubric

The District will meet at least the minimum requirement for each school safety and security standard indicator adopted by the Nebraska Department of Education.

b. School Hours

i. During a crisis situation, the administration will maintain established school hours and proceed with all co-curricular activities as scheduled whenever possible.

ii. If, during a crisis situation, the parent(s) or guardian of a student decide that the student needs to be absent, this absence will be excused.

c. Access to School Facilities

i. The school’s facilities may not be used for funeral or memorial services during the school day.

ii. This policy does not discourage the presentation of traditional American Legion memorial services which promote patriotism.

d. Memorials

i. Memorials often create a visual reminder of a particular crisis that may reintroduce feelings of grief for students. Therefore, memorials may not be displayed anywhere on the school premises without board approval.

ii. This policy is not intended to discourage the acceptance of memorial funds or specific items.

II. Superintendent’s Duties Related to Safety and Security

a. Appointment of Crisis Team

The Superintendent shall appoint members to serve on the school district’s crisis team. The superintendent may, but is not required, to include representatives from the following groups on the crisis team:

· Administrators

· Teachers

· Health/mental health

· Facilities staff

· Transportation staff

· Food service staff member

· Students

· Parents

· Staff member with expertise on the needs of students with disabilities

· Organizations that serve the disabled

· Organizations that serve the needs of minority populations (ELL, race, etc.)

· Representatives from local early responders (law enforcement, fire and rescue personnel, railroad, factories, etc.)

b. Compliance with Fire and Safety Codes

The Superintendent will ensure that the school district meets all current fire and life safety codes or is in the process of coming into compliance.

c. Annual Safety Audits

The Superintendent will arrange for the performance of an annual safety audits using an external consultants utilizing the standardized audit protocol adopted by the Nebraska Department of Education.

d. Mutual Aid Agreements

The Superintendent will enter into mutual aid agreements to address the academic, physical, operational, psychological, and emotional recovery areas when possible with appropriate local entities.

III. Building Principals’ Duties Related to Safety and Security

a. Positive and Safe Learning Environment

Each building principal shall implement a school-wide behavior process to create a positive and safe learning environment.

Each building principal shall conduct training on and require enforcement of the district’s anti-bullying and dating violence policies.

Each building principal shall ensure that staff complete the required suicide prevention training as required by board policy.

Each building principal shall require staff to engage in active supervision of students at all times

b. Visitor Protocol.

Each building principal shall adopt a protocol for visitors to his/her school building to sign in upon arrival and departure and to be identified as a visitor while they are in the building during the school day. The protocol must also address visitors in specialized areas of the school such as playgrounds, gyms, cafeterias and the like.

This protocol may be written or unwritten but must be clearly communicated to and enforced by all staff.

The building principal will report individuals who repeatedly violate the visitor protocol to the superintendent for possible exclusion from school facilities pursuant to board policy.

c. Emergency Drills

Each building principal must ensure that the following drills are conducted in his/her building:

i. Fire drills (evacuation): One fire drill conducted monthly with one additional drill being conducted during the first 30 days of school.

ii. Tornado drills (shelter): One drill during the first two weeks of school and the second drill during the month of March.

iii. Bus evacuation drills: Two drills during the school year involving all students and appropriate staff. Recommended that one drill occur during the first month of school.

Each building principal must also conduct any non-required drills recommended by crisis team.

Each building principal shall conduct a performance review of each of the drills conducted pursuant to this policy. This review does not have to be in writing.

Adopted on: October 17, 2016

Revised on: _________________________

Reviewed on: ________________________