How to Strengthen the Safety and Security of Your School

Embedded in this guidance are a number of linked resources to support you in strengthening the safety and security of your district.

U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, Lindsay Burton and Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Principal, Michelle Kefford, discuss the insights they’ve gained in their roles as resources to school leaders on safety measures in this recent Education Week article.

1. Plan for emergencies and listen to all voices in your community. The authors note that although school shootings are rare, leaders need to plan for crises. They direct these comments toward principals, but the practices are also relevant for superintendents.
   1. Create intentional spaces and designated times for students’ voices to be heard.
   2. Do the same for staff.
   3. Review your emergency operations plans and practice key elements at different points throughout the year. The authors suggest “tabletop exercises to test specific procedures or conducting developmentally appropriate drills so all members of the school community can run through the actions they would take before, during, and after an emergency.” They encourage you to collaborate with community partners.
   4. Map out how you will recover if an incident occurs. This Guide to Recovery from NASSP Principal Recovery Network names some issues that arise when a school or district is recovering from a traumatic event and offers suggestions and insights based upon the contributions of those who have experienced such events.
2. Keep track of relevant school safety resources and evidence-based best practices. Two agencies provide toolkits and other resources related to school safety—before, during, and after a potential emergency.
   1. From the federal government: schoolsafety.gov
   2. From the Department of Homeland Security: Prevention Resource Finder
3. Access grants and funding opportunities to financially support school safety efforts.
   1. From SchoolSafety.gov: Grants Finder Tool

The authors remind leaders to think through their current approach to safety and to utilize the resources available to feel “ready to address school safety throughout the year.”

Read the full article