Plainedge Public Schools Wh Wher ere e Ev Ever eryone yone Ac Achiev eves es Security in Our Schools Board of Education Meeting March 13, 2018 Dr. Edward A. Salina, Jr., Superintendent of Schools
District-Wide Safety (SAVE) When any threat of violence occurs, our Emergency School Response Teams are activated to implement the necessary and appropriate response to each situation. Our Emergency School Response Teams include: • Principal • Assistant Principal • Social Worker • Psychologist • Guidance Counselor • Nurse • General Education Teacher • Special Education Teacher • Head Custodian and any other staff member who may have specialized expertise or in receipt of information that relates to the current situation. The Emergency Response Teams will recommend appropriate measures and if deemed necessary, will activate the District- Wide Safety Team which includes central administration, security personnel, local law enforcement and/or emergency services personnel. Other professionals throughout the District will be called upon depending on the situation. Please be assured that if a threatening situation occurs, parents will be notified promptly. The District may choose from a variety of communication methods including individual phone calls, mass notification via our School Messenger system in the form of phone, email, and SMS Text Messages, social media, and our website.
District-Wide Safety While we are proud of the fact that we are ranked #12 in the State of New York for school safety, the District’s goal is to be ranked #1 in the Nation. As such, the District is working on changes to our current security measures and procedures.
New Security Personnel Effectively immediately we are looking to hire Security Aides (unarmed) who will be active or retired law enforcement and/or military personnel. They will be assigned to each school in order to verify that persons and vehicles entering our facilities are authorized and to assist in the safety and security of students and staff. Security Aides will also be trained in CPR/AED/First Aid and EpiPen administration. All Security Aides should have a minimum of 7 years of experience in law enforcement, and/or military or alternate experience approved by the district. Security Personnel may be ask to provide a (Good Guy Letter for LEO’s and Honorable Discharged letter for Military). Military is encouraged to apply. Some college preferred. Background check and fingerprinted by New York State Department of Education. Valid New York State Driver’s License. New York State Department of State Security Guard License. Maintain an 8 hour New York State certification each year (Law Enforcement Not-Exempt) Possess a 16 hour New York State training certificate. Participate in annual and semi-annual district training. Will be trained CPR/AED/First Aid (District will train). Must have a knowledge of computer and email. Candidate should have a professional appearance and self-motivated. Knowledge of the Penal Law and the ability to interact with Law Enforcement.
Increase Video Surveillance at All Schools
Secure Entranceways at all Schools (Vestibules) The District in collaboration with our administration, school security consultants, and our architect have completed the design for creating secure entrance ways in all schools. Visitors entering the building will initially enter a visitor holding area through the first set of exterior doors. After using our automated visitor registration system, being cleared on the National Sex Offender Registry, and validated and checked by our newly hired security personnel, they will buzzed into the school via a second set of doors. This will restrict individuals from entering into the school while they are being checked.
High School Entry and Attendance Management System In the next 60 to 90 days, the District will be implementing technology that will scan every student’s ID card before entering the High School. These kiosks will be staffed with personnel who will monitor admission. The system will alert staff members to any individual who does not belong in the school, including students who no longer attend or are suspended. The system has the ability to text message parents to let them know when their child is safely in the school. ScholarChip Demo
Staff and Student Identification Staff district-wide are required to wear their ID Cards on a lanyard at all times. It is important that any staff member be easily identified with a valid ID. High School students are required to carry their valid student ID. Lost student ID cards can be replaced for a fee of $10. To replace student ID cards please visit http://bit.ly/PlainedgeHS_IDReplacement . Students will be contacted by the main office when their new ID card is available.
High School Juniors Seniors and Open Campus Procedures Upon installation of the new attendance management system, seniors who are eligible to leave the building for lunch will be required to scan in and out. As an added security measure, we are installing self-serve kiosks where seniors will “Scan Out” for lunch and “Scan In” when returning. The system has the ability to text message parents to let them know when their child is off campus and safely back on campus.
Visiting Our Schools / New Visitor Management System Effective immediately, any visitor entering a building will be required to show a valid driver’s license or other official government issued ID. All visitors are required to sign in and produce identification and have a valid purpose or appointment before entering any school. The District, over the next 60 to 90 days, will be implementing a visitor management system. This system will register any person requesting access to any of our schools. The system will scan and record a driver’s license or other valid governmental ID and will record the person’s picture. The system will check individuals against the National Sex Offender Registry and alert security personnel before entry to our schools.
Establish District-Wide Emergency Communications Network The District is in the process of upgrading its security radios and radio system with military spec radios that have encryption. Having reliable communication in emergencies is critical to any situation. Radios will be utilized by key personnel identified in the District and Building Safety Plans.
School Bus and GPS Monitoring The District is in the final stages of testing all of our new bus safety technologies. GPS units have been upgraded on all buses in order for the District to proactively monitor the location of all of our buses in real time.
Door Open Notification System The District will be installing wireless sensors on all exterior doors at every building which will notify our administration and security personnel when a door is left open (ajar). School Safety and Security Audits In order to make recommendations for improving security in our schools, the District provides training in how to conduct safety and security audits to our building safety teams. Continuous self-assessments and post-incident and post-drill discussions are necessary components of any effective safety plan.
Physical, Social & Emotional Wellness While the above improvements are paramount, the health of our staff and students are in the forefront of our minds every day. The District realizes that positive relationships between staff and students, and a strong partnership between home and school are crucial in fostering a learning environment which is safe and puts the best interest of the student first. You have our commitment that we will continue to build and strengthen these relationships to ensure that the physical, social, and emotional well-being of our children always remain our focus. The District continues to improve its programs for anti-bullying and to promote social-emotional health. The District continues to rely on counselors, psychologists, and social workers to assist students who are struggling with social-emotional difficulties or life challenges.
Report-It.com The District would like to remind all parents that we have a Safe School Helpline. “See it… Suspect it… Hear it… Report - It.” You can access the system any time of the day or night to report concerns about unsafe or potentially disruptive activities or situations including drug or alcohol abuse, weapons, harassment, bullying or threats. All communications are completely confidential. If you have to think twice about it, please call and report any suspicious behavior. Reports can be made by: Online at www.report-it.com or call (877) SAFE-K12 Username: PlainedgeSchools Password: Plainedge
Expansion of One-Button Lockdown All Schools The Plainedge High School is noted as being the first in the Nation for its advanced security technology measures and being able to lock down a building in a matter of seconds. As we have learned from other incidents throughout the Nation, seconds matter. This feature is now available in all schools. Most recently (March 1 and March 2), we conducted lockdown drills using the new One-Button Lockdown System in every school.
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