Somerville School District School Safety & Security December - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Somerville School District School Safety & Security

December 11, 2018

Melissa McEntee - Director of 21st Century School Safety Specialist

• Dr. Timothy Teehan -

Superintendent

Student & Personnel Matters

• By law, not permitted to discuss specific student or personnel

matters in public

• Everything is investigated thoroughly and SPD notified when

warranted

• District and school administration prioritize responsibilities
• Counselors and support staff available to assist when needed

DISTRICT RESPONSIBILITIES

• Educating students, staff, and community about safety and

responsibility

• Safety measures
• Technology measures

○ Filters & Alerts

• Investigate all reports
• Communicate with students/parents/staff
• Model appropriate behavior including social media

DISTRICT INVESTIGATION PROCESS

• Social Media & District Accounts Reviewed

○ Shared with SPD

• All names and demographic info of anyone involved shared with SPD

○ File saved as school record

• District Policies enforced based on

situation and investigation

SPD INVESTIGATION PROCESS

• Social Media Accounts
• All accounts, even ones that you think are hidden, can be traced and viewed
• Deleted or removed posts are not always totally deleted or removed and the

police can gain access to these

• Subpoenas will be gathered for all Cell Phone, Laptops, and other Personal

Devices

• Personal items could be taken for an extended period of time as evidence
• Home visit and possible search of your residence/personal space
• Some criminal charges, even if you are a juvenile, will always stay on your

record

Timeline of Recent Incidents & Responses

Incidents:

• Event 1: Friday, November 30th
• Event 2: Saturday, December 1st
• Event 3: Monday, December 3rd
• Event 4: Monday, December 3rd
• Events 5-6: Wednesday, December 5th

○ Rumors, hearsay, no physical evidence of threat Responses:

• Staff Meetings: Tuesday, December 4th &

Thursday, December 6th

• Student Assemblies: Thursday December 6th
• Student Meetings: Tuesday December 11 -

Thursday December 13

• SBOE Information Session: Tuesday, December

11th

Communications

• 12/3 - (9:30 am) Instagram Issue (SM - E-mail/Text)
• 12/3 - (11:45 am) SHS Follow Up (SM - E-mail/Text)
• 12/3 - (11:45 am) SHS Intercom Announcement by Mr. Foley
• 12/3 - (8:13 pm) SHS Update 12/3/18 (SM - Letter/E-mail/Text)
• 12/5 - (10:30 am) SHS Intercom Announcement by Mr. Foley
• 12/6 - (11:42 am) SHS Update 12/6/18 (SM - Letter/E-mail/Text)
• 12/7 - (5:15 pm) SHS Update 12/7/18 (SM - Letter/E-mail/Text)
• 12/10 - (7:35 am) SHS Intercom Announcement from Mr. Foley
• 12/10 - (All Day) Conversations in ELA Classrooms 12/10-13

Unfounded / Non-Credible Threats

• Investigated by school and District Administration

○ Parents notified, interviews conducted

• Investigated by SPD, Somerset County Prosecutor Office and/or local jurisdictions

○ Police determine individual does not have the ability or intent to inflict harm ■ Target, Time & Place, Means ○ In general individuals post ■ “a joke” ■ “didn’t mean harm” ■ “wasn’t serious” ■ “Song lyrics” ■ Pictures, Memes & Emojis

SCHOOL SAFETY PARTNERSHIPS

• Emergency Management Planning Committee

○ Somerville Police Department ○ Somerville Fire Department ○ Office of Emergency Management ○ Membership collaborates to analyze school safety ■ Plans are modified to address areas of improvement

• Monthly drill monitoring and feedback (SPD, SFD, OEM, SCD)

○ NJ Law (one drill with law enforcement per school, per year)

• Monthly Somerset County School Safety Specialist Meetings

SCHOOL SAFETY PARTNERSHIPS

• Police walk hallways and visit classrooms
• All police rotate through buildings so they are familiar
• DARE program VDV & SMS
• Somerville Emergency Management Committee meetings
• Security Ad Hoc Committee
• B-Con training cohorts
• Form a focus group for school safety

○ Walk buildings with lens of vulnerability ○ Review submitted safety improvement suggestions

STANDARD RESPONSE PROTOCOL (SRP)

• Created by the I Love You Guys Foundation
• Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office

○ Led Somerset County in SRP adoption ○ Created and shared resources to local districts

• Annually train staff and students
• Implemented standard announcements

IT TAKES A VILLAGE

• Students, staff, and community need to be proactive

○ Report anyone/anything suspicious to District and School Administration or Police

• Proactive mental health philosophy districtwide

○ School psychologists for all students ○ Guidance counselors ○ Social workers ○ Caring staff

PARENT/GUARDIAN RESPONSIBILITIES

• Model proper Social Media presence
• Monitor your child’s Social Media accounts
• Talk with children about social media posts
• Talk about digital footprint
• Don’t spread rumors, which can cause unwarranted concern
• Report concerns to school officials/police

Safety Improvement Suggestions & Questions

• Link posted on websites
• Please visit this link to submit safety improvement suggestions

http://bit.ly/villesafety