School Violence
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April 2018 | Section B Early Childhood: 6 Nutrition: 7 Summer Camp Guide: 8 Athletics: 14 Components of a Safe School By Larry D. Johnson, Chief of Staff & Executive Director of Public Safety & President, National Association of School Safety & Law Enforcement One of the things that input of students, parents, staff and community members, continue to solicit input from our parents, students, staff makes school shootings so we will select the best avenue that will give our community and the community to prioritize our work as we continue scary is that they seem so and district an advantage in preventing, mitigating, to create and maintain a safe school environment for all the random. However, we believe preparing and recovery should we be faced with a critical schools in our district. that school shootings are incident in our schools. So keep your eyes open for new visitor management predictable, and if you can We continue to work with our staff in “The system, and new and improved two-way radio system, predict them, you can prevent Components of a Safe School” program. This process has additional cameras in all of our buildings, increased use of them. been the backbone of our school safety program and it is card access and door intercom systems. In addition, we will Nobody is born a school recognized nationally as a model for school safety. See page evaluate all of our communication systems, and continue shooter. School shooters are made by a combination of B3 for the Components of a Safe School. training our staff. In the spring of 2018, we plan to expand factors, both internal and external. School shooters have If we embrace these components, we are confident all of our school safety trainings to our students, parents and many of these factors in common, and as such, it is possible that we will continue to make Grand Rapids Public the community. to identify a youth who is at risk for devolving into a school Schools one of the safest districts in the state, if not the Keeping schools safe is our goal, and we want to shooter. This means that with timely intervention, it can be entire nation. Our focus as we prepare to move forward is continue to build the TRUST necessary for our parents to possible to prevent a school shooting. around security technology. The citizens of Grand Rapids continue to send their students to what I believe are some For several weeks on the nightly news, we have seen believe so much in the district that they have given us the of the safest schools in the nation. We will also continue to talk of school violence, and the death and destruction opportunity to improve on our school safety and security take the input from all of our stakeholders because we know at American schools. These incidents have occurred by passing a 10 million dollar bond that will allow for the this work cannot be completed in isolation. in various locations, including both public and private upgrading of entry ways at our schools. This will also allow For additional information on upcoming security schools. No school district is immune to the troubling us to increase our use of cameras, card access, two-way related projects, contact Larry Johnson at [email protected] issues facing American schools. As a school safety radios and visitor management systems. We look forward or call 616 819-2100. Further projects will also be posted professional, I am convinced that these events can be to improving all of our schools in the very near future. on the district website. (Components of a Safe Schools mitigated; however, it starts with TRUST. Parents must With the opening of C.A. Frost Middle/High School taken from the book “Components of a Safe School by TRUST those responsible for school safety and security. In (2016), Buchanan Elementary, and Museum High School Larry D. Johnson.) The components of a Safe School are as much as those involved in the safety of students enjoy you will began to see our thoughts and goals for all of detailed on page B3. the feedback, during a critical incident, it is so important our campuses. A process has been put in place to begin that parents, staff and the community give districts the additional work on security entry ways and the increase SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING, DO SOMETHING opportunity to manage the incidents. use of other security technology solutions. In the coming The Grand Rapids Public School has had its share of months, look for additional security work to be completed incidents over the years, and each year we get better and at Gerald R. Ford Academic Center, Martin Luther King better at preventing and managing these incidents. We Academy, Cesar Chavez, and Burton Middle/Elementary SCHOOL hope and pray that our community will never face any Schools. We selected these school as they had previous of the death and heartache that communities are facing work that allows for easy integration of the new security STOP around the county. technology and re-design of their front office. VIOLENCE With careful thought and consideration, and with the Following the above-mentioned projects, we will ■ SEE SAFE SCHOOLS / B3 Schools Use Silent Observer to Stop Campus Violence Silent Observer voice anonymously to report information about crime people to get involved in the safety and well-being of their developed a School occurring on or off school grounds by calling Silent school community. Silent Observer influences our youth Violence Prevention Observer at 616-774-2345, using the Silent Observer by educating them and showing them they have the power Program for middle mobile app, or by visiting to www.silentobserver.org. If to stop the violence, they have the power to make things and high school the student’s tip leads to the recovery of stolen or damaged right, and they have the power to change their world. students in 1998 – property or drugs, the student is eligible to claim a $50 Their power is using their voice to stand up for family and before acts of campus reward, using the identification number received at the friends by reporting dangerous situations safely, without violence became time the tip was submitted. fear of retaliation. regular headline news. Grand Rapids Public Schools, For the past 20 years, tips from students have led Silent Observer is your partner in helping to keep our together with most school districts in Kent County, has authorities to guns, knives, drugs, assault, vandalism, families, our neighborhoods and our schools a safe place to live, promoted this program to create an environment that is threats of violence, bullying, sexting, theft, etc. Silent work and play. safe for all students. Students and parents can use their Observer developed this program to empower our young 2 GRPS News April 2018 Grand Rapids Public Schools APRIL 2018 Community Update on Secure, Connect, Transform Bond Projects Grand Rapids Board of Education Multiple Projects Underway or Completed 2018 By Teresa Weatherall Neal, M.Ed., Superintendent of Schools Wendy VerHage Falb, Ph.D., President When I asked the residents of Grand schedule for the same upgrade. City High Middle School Raynard Ross, Vice President Kristian Grant, Secretary Rapids to support our bond in 2015, I TRANSFORM Status: IN PROGRESS pledged to secure, connect, and transform Jen Schottke, Treasurer our district. Thanks to your overwhelming Buchanan Elementary School City High Middle School is under Tony Baker, Ph.D. José Flores, Ed.D. support, we continue to make significant Status: IN PROGRESS construction for a major renovation of progress toward our goals. the original academic building, including Katherine Downes Lewis When complete, Buchanan classroom improvements, science lab Rev. John Matias SECURE Elementary will be approximately 75% renovations, revised secure entry, restroom Maureen Quinn Slade Student and staff safety is our greatest new building and 25% fully renovated upgrades, lockers, classroom furniture, Teresa Weatherall Neal, M.Ed. concern. Although our schools have had building. The addition to the school will heating and air conditioning. Classrooms Superintendent of Schools secure entrances and requirements for include 16 classrooms, gym, cafeteria and improvements include new ceilings, new all visitors to sign in through the office, kitchen. Renovations will be made to seven LED lighting, window treatments, flooring, Equal Opportunity Institution: Grand Rapids Public many of our buildings were not built classrooms, media center, administrative painting, and technology. Currently the Schools, as an Equal Opportunity Institution, for the complex security concerns of the offices, and a secure entry. Additional north half of the building is closed for complies with federal and state laws prohibiting discrimination and harassment, including Title IV 21st Century. Led by Chief of Staff and improvements to the school will include the construction, and will be complete for the playground, parking lot and drop-off areas. and Title VII (with amendments) of the 1964 Civil Executive Director of Public Safety/School start of next school year on August 20, Rights Act, Title IX of the Educational Amendment of Security Mr. Larry Johnson, building The 16 classrooms will be relocated to 2018. Next school year will see the south 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, entrances and offices are being redesigned occupy new rooms over spring break. The half under construction. The full project Veterans Readjustment Act of 1974 as amended 38 to meet today’s standards. entire building will be complete for the start completion is estimated at May, 2019. USC 20-12 and the Americans With Disabilities Act of next school year on August 20, 2018. of 1990. The District will not discriminate against CONNECT Air Conditioning any person based on race, sex, sexual orientation, Grand Rapids Public Museum High School Our Management Information Status: BEGINNING SUMMER 2018 gender, gender identity and expression, height, Status: IN PROGRESS weight, color, religion, national origin, age, marital Services team has been distributing and CA Frost Elementary and Campus installing new technology throughout the status, pregnancy, disability or veteran status.