Last year’s Sandy Hook tragedy shook the nation. Since then, schools and districts have been trying to build risk management plans and drills to protect their students, faculty, and staff.
Since last spring, stories have been making headlines about the ways some schools are approaching violence prevention. These stories vary from extensive staff training during in-service days, to surprise exercises where a disguised staff member enters the school as a gunman, to arming teachers with firearms. Opinions about best practices are as differing as the approaches.
In some areas, parents are having a hard time with the life like nature of surprise drills.
Wayne County School District (North Carolina) parents were recorded voicing their concerns over a surprise exercise that “went a little too far; got a little too creative.” Parents were notified by a letter that an armed gunman who was part of an enrichment exercise for the county’s Middle School had taken the drill further than anticipated, pretending to rob some of the sixth grade students. The district acknowledged a lack of judgment and sensitivity; however, they stand by their belief that drills such as these can better prepare not only their teachers and students, but also the local authorities who also were part of the exercise.
In an article discussing Ellenville School District’s (New York) safety drills, Ulster County Undersheriff Frank Faluotico was quoted, “Basically, what we’re trying to do is get that mindset of survival. Just like we're training the students every day through teachers, we have to train our teachers through police officers.”
How your school prepares for risks is unique to your school’s values. There’s not a one-size-fits-all, how-to cheat sheet. However, ISM does have a Four-Team Approach for Creating and Maintaining Crisis Plans that was published last year. If you’re currently reviewing how your school approaches risk management and preparation for the unexpected, we strongly suggest establishing several teams who can devote focused assessment on prevention, response, and recovery planning.
Recent Headlines:
- Teachers Terrorized by Masked Gunmen in Unannounced School Shooting ‘Drill’
- Cops in New Jersey conduct school shooting drill
- Wallenpaupack school district holds 'active shooter drill'
- Shooter training drill reviews safety at Ellenville schools
- School shooting drill held in Bullitt County
Risk management is everyone’s responsibility—it absolutely cannot be left to your school’s Head alone. The Head is responsible for setting the process of forming committees, collaborating with the Board President and Business Officer, and selecting key team members for each committee. But preventing risks must be a community effort that includes faculty, staff, students, and families. For more insight on building a Risk Management Team (RMT) click here.
Additional ISM articles of interest
ISM Monthly Update for Risk Managers Vol. 1 No. 3 Managing Risk With Basic Drills
ISM Monthly Update for Risk Managers Vol. 3 No. 4 Newtown School and Your School
ISM Monthly Update for Risk Managers Vol. 3 No. 1 Crisis Planning—It’s Your Job
ISM Monthly Update for Risk Managers Vol. 3 No. 3 Four-Team Approach for Creating and Maintaining a Crisis Plan
ISM Monthly Update for Risk Managers Vol. 3 No. 7 Planning Against Violent Acts
Additional ISM articles of interest for Gold Consortium members
I&P Vol.35 No. 12 Does Your Crisis Plan Really Protect Your Students (and School?)
