LPS Board of Educations Community Conversations: Safety and - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

LPS Board of Education’s Community Conversations:

Safety and Security, Climate and Culture, Mental Health, and Diversity

LPS Board of Education Focus Area 7: Promote and provide a safe environment that fosters caring, respect, and compassion for others.

LPS Board of Education Focus Area 10: Partner with parents and community to expand and enhance programs that address the physical, social, and emotional well-being of students, families, and staff.

Background and Purpose: Why are we here?

❖ This is about all schools within Littleton Public Schools. ❖ These sessions are a result of conversations last spring with some students and parents expressing concerns about student engagement and fairness at school. ❖ To share information and education to the community related to what LPS currently does in the areas of safety and security, climate and, mental health, and diversity. ❖ This is about the Board listening, learning, and gathering feedback about perceptions and experiences in our schools. ❖ This is about feeding new learning to the Board and administration related to the work of equity, engagement, and innovation. ❖ This is about the Board determining strategic next steps and priorities (if any). ❖ This is not about the Board making any specific decisions.

LPS MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES

• ESC School Engagement Team = 3.5 FTE
• ESC Social/Emotional/Behavior/Mental Health Team = 4 FTE
• School-based Mental Health Professionals = 76.7 FTE

○ Psychologists = 29.7 FTE ○ Social Workers = 16 FTE ○ School Counselors = 30 FTE

• Dr. Anna Mueller, Professor of Sociology from

Indiana University

“We're seeing concerning trends nationwide showing increasing rates of youth suicide and other youth mental health disorders. Rather than coming in with assumptions, I’m trying to hear kids' voices themselves. What's it like to be a kid today? What are sources of stress and distress?”

❖ Research conducted over two school years, concluding in 2021. ❖ Goal is to learn how to build more connected schools and communities that impart a sense of belonging among youths. ❖ The study, “Social Worlds and Youth Wellbeing Study,” will be conducted in two ways: Mueller will observe “youth-centered community life in schools and other community locations,” and will also conduct interviews and focus groups with youths, school stafg, parents and other community members.

LPS Safety and Security

❖ LPS District Security Offjcers and Stafg = 10 full time FTE and 2 part time FTE ❖ School-based Campus Monitors = 14 FTE ❖ SROs = 10 FTE (6 from LPD and 4 from ACSO) ❖ Ranked as one of the best school districts in the country by Security Magazine for safety and security protocols. ❖ Monitors and maintains the districts Unified Security System including all fire and HVAC controls for the entire district. ❖ Responds immediately to all types of emergencies with 24/7/365 patrol. ❖ Works with local law enforcement through the preparation of and drilling for various emergency responses and through our school resource offjcers. ❖ Responds to all Safe2Tell calls.

A system to anonymously report anything that concerns or threatens you, your friends, your family or your community.

NOTE: To date, 301 Safe2Tell calls this year (7/1/19 - 1/21/20).

Student Engagement Team

https://littletonpublicschools.net/mentalhealth https://littletonpublicschools.net/community-resources

Support from the LPS Foundation

2018-2019: Provided $129,150 for mental health and wellness

Using Tech Tools for Student Safety, Interconnectedness and the Removal of Departmental Silos

❖ Department of Safety and Security ❖ Department of Technology ❖ Department of Social, Emotional, and Behavior Services

https://go.boarddocs.com/co/lpsco/Board.nsf/files/BL2KDP513CC2/$file/Usin g%20Tech%20Tools%20for%20Student%20Safety%20Presentation.pdf

Ongoing Data Gathering

October: Culture and Climate Survey (Board & Stafg)

❖ 4 years of data ❖ Fall of 2019 results to be presented to Board on January 16, 2020

Colorado Healthy Kids Survey (Board & Stafg)

❖ Completed before Winter Break ❖ Results to be presented to BoE in March/April 2020

TLCC Survey for Licensed Educators (Board & Stafg)

❖ Administered in 2015, 2018 and again starting Jan. 22

Annual Special Services Advisory Committee Survey (Board & Stafg)

❖ 18–19 results presented to the Board October 24 ❖ Next survey administered January 2020

Scientific Voter Survey/Poll administered by Lori Weigel (Board & Stafg)

❖ Administered 9 times since 2000 ❖ February 200 results to Board of Education in March 2020

• Jan. 2020: Quad School Student Retreat (Board & Stafg)

HHS Student Leader Strand at CASB Conference (Board)

❖ Board of Education spent ~2 hours in dialog with students

• Oct. 2019: Student Mental Health Fish Bowl (Stafg)

❖ 4 high school students sharing experiences, thoughts, and ideas about mental health and social/emotional learning ❖ Observed by 90 mental health professionals, teachers, and administrators

Student Mental Health Advisory Group (2nd year) (Stafg)

❖ Focus on mental health and suicide prevention

Sources of Strength (Students & Stafg)

❖ 556 students trained as Peer Leaders ❖ Student leadership groups at 8 schools ❖ Community trainings: 28 adults and parents

Preliminary interviews and focus groups conducted by

• Dr. Mueller (All)

❖ Ongoing: 2019–2020 and 2020–2021 school years

Available at: https://littletonpublicschools.net/district/school-climate-surveys

Teaching and Learning Conditions Survey of Licensed Personnel

Available at: http://www.tlccsurvey.org/

LPS SPRING 2018 TLCC RESULTS

30 Minute Protocol

Exploring the 4 themes:

❖ Culture and Climate ❖ Diversity ❖ Safety and Security ❖ Mental Health

For each theme, 4 questions will be asked and feedback gathered:

❖ What is awesome about your school that others might not know? What are/where are the hidden gems? ❖ What's working well at your school (strengths)? Why? ❖ Whose voices are less heard at your school? Why? ❖ What are/where are the challenges for students and/or parents? What areas need focus, improvement, or attention?

INFORMAL CONVERSATION with the LPS Board of Education