Proud Traditions, An Exciting Future A publication of the Dickinson Independent School District A Message from Superintendent Carla Voelkel... Dickinson ISD implements measures for safer schools Dickinson ISD has an ongoing commitment to keep our students and employees safe. Since the tragic school event that happened in a neighboring school district on May 18th, Dickinson ISD administrators, law enforcement officers and staff members have spent many hours attending training sessions and examin- ing ways to make our schools safer. To assist with this process, a comprehensive Safety and Security Committee, which includes parents, students, district employees, faith-based leaders, mental health representatives and law enforcement representatives has Focus on School Safety... met monthly to review security measures and procedures already The majority of this issue of in place and to develop, administer and view the results of a safe- “Dialogue” is dedicated to educating ty survey given to students (grades 5-12), employees and parents. parents and the community about After studying the survey results and identifying priorities, the safety and security initiatives Superintendent Carla Voelkel practices using a tourniquet on Deputy student members of the Safety and Security Committee presented underway in Dickinson ISD Superintendent for Educational Services Lee Courville at the dis- recommendations for future safety measures at the November 5th this school year, including law trict’s recent Safety Saturday event featuring Stop The Bleed training, Board Meeting. Information about these recommendations are enforcement, mental health, tips for which is being provided to all district employees this school year. featured in this special edition of the Dialogue devoted to school parents, emergency communications safety and security. Many of the articles in this edition were and more. • The speaker system at DHS was updated and replaced. recommended by members of our Safety and Security Committee, • Dickinson ISD Campus Crime Stoppers has been re-launched, more on pages 2-5 and 8-12 and we hope you will read and share information from this issue. and students can call 281-229-STOP to submit tips or report While the committee has been meeting, DISD has moved crimes anonymously. An app for anonymous reporting will be forward and implemented several measures to make our schools available in the near future. safer. This includes: • Hughes Road Elementary, McAdams Junior High and DHS • The number of Galveston County Sheriff School Resource are participating in a pilot program that will allow parents to Officers was increased from four to eight, including three track the location of school buses and receive messages from officers at Dickinson High School and one at each middle the Transportation Department. Depending on the results from Big Al’s school and junior high. The district purchased four vehicles the pilot, this resource may be implemented district-wide. for the new officers and they should arrive before the Thanks- • Working with community mental health partners that include Brag Book giving break. The officers assigned to the middle school Resolve It, Family Service Center, Innovative Alternatives and campuses will also regularly visit elementary campuses. Krist Samaritan, additional resources and counseling support • Two full-time security monitors were added at DHS. A golf have been added to campuses to better meet the emotional and Bragging Rights... cart was purchased for one of the monitors to continuously mental health needs of students. patrol the exterior perimeter throughout the school day, while There are many things to brag • A Parent Inquiry Form was created and is now available on the other patrols the interior. about in Dickinson ISD, so we are the district website for parents to complete and submit a re- • Card swipe entries were added for employees at six of the introducing a new feature in quest for mental health assistance with their children. campuses without this technology. “Dialogue” called “Big Al’s Brag • Two “Safety Saturday” events have been provided -- the first • Additional fencing was installed at DHS, Lobit Elementary, Book” to spotlight some of the things in September focused on active shooter awareness and cyber Silbernagel Elementary and Bay Colony Elementary. we are thankful for in Dickinson ISD. security, and the second, earlier this month, provided “Stop the • Special software was purchased and it is being used 24/7 to Bleed” training by UTMB medical professionals and Dickin- monitor social media, internal digital media and district tech- more on page 6-7 son EMS. nology resources for threats, suicide ideation and bullying. continued on page 2 Vol. 27, No. 2 NOVEMBER 2018 PAGE 2 DICKINSON DIALOGUE NOVEMBER 2018 Safety and Security Committee presents recommendations to the Board of Trustees The Dickinson ISD Board of Trustees heard a report from three Dickinson High School students at the Novem- Dickinson ISD Safety and Security Committee Recommendations ber 5 meeting summarizing the recommendations from the • Have continuous Anti-Bullying Programs from pre- • Continue adding Law Enforcement officers so even- district’s Safety and Security Committee formed during kindergarten through 12th grade. tually each campus has an officer and larger cam- the summer of 2018 to guide the school district in further • Expand and grow the Dickinson High School Lunch puses (DHS, MJHS, KJHS) have multiple officers. enhancing safety and security efforts. Bunch Program to include more students and at ad- • Complete an assessment of district cameras and add David Paul Hilton, Skyler Maner and Tristin Saucedo ditional campuses. This program has been imple- additional cameras at all campuses. were the students who spoke on behalf of the commit- mented as a result of the Mental Health Counseling • Investigate and install controlled access to school tee which included representatives from several different support added to the district. main entrances/front office areas. areas, including parents, teachers, students, principals, law • Seek ways to continue current grant-funded Men- • Investigate and install bullet proof window film at enforcement, faith-based leaders, mental health, Dickinson tal Health Programs (for example, continuing to school main entrances/front office areas, and inves- ISD support staff and the Facilities Task Force. The goal of have additional counselors dedicated to mental tigate window film/window covering for interior the committee was to work collaboratively, reach consen- health which are currently funded only for one year classroom windows at Lobit Education Village and sus and make recommendations to enhance safety efforts at through a grant related to Hurricane Harvey). Kranz Junior High. all Dickinson ISD facilities. • Provide employees with a Panic Button App for • Continue providing safety training for students, Over the past two months the committee met four phones. parents, and employees. times. At the first meeting, members learned about the cur- rent safety and security measures in place throughout the school district. In addition, they were provided with copies of the Governor’s School Safety Action Plan and Sen- Top Five Options for Safer Schools by Groups ate Select Committee on Violence in Schools and School Students Staff Parents Parents (Spanish) Security Report to the 86th Legislature. During the second meeting, the group worked in Bullet Proof Window Film Control Access to Grounds Control Access to Grounds Metal Detectors groups to review, discuss and finalize questions to include Panic Buttons for Teachers Additional Law Enforcement Additional Law Enforcement Control Access to Grounds on three separate safety and security surveys -- Parent Survey, Student Survey and Employee Survey. The surveys More Safety Training Panic Buttons for Teachers Panic Buttons for Teachers Additional Law Enforcement were sent by Skyward email to parents, students (grades 5-12) and employees to complete. Additional Law Enforcement Additional Cameras Monitor Social Media Additional Cameras The Safety and Security Committee reviewed and discussed the results of the surveys at the third meeting and Additional Cameras Bullet Proof Window Film Anti-Bullying Programs Panic Buttons for Teachers began to discuss possible recommendations to the Board of Trustees for further investigation. Some of the recommen- The information above highlights the top five safer school options chosen by each group surveyed. The colored cells display the dations will be short term while other recommendations areas were the groups overlapped out of 15 possible choices provided. will be part of a long term plan. In groups, the committee brainstormed topics for further Safety Saturday sessions and the district newsletter. Voelkel highlights new Dickinson ISD safety measures The final meeting before the presentation, the com- continued from page 1... media accounts (Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook). mittee reviewed and discussed a draft of the district’s new False information on social media or online/texted rumors • District administrators have received “Stop the Emergency Communications Plan and heard plans for this can cause further fear or concern. Remind your student(s) Bleed” training, and a schedule was developed so special issue of “Dialogue” devoted to safety and security. to not spread it, but report it. Also, if students see some- that all DISD employees will receive this training this Robert Cobb shared