Section 3: Adapting School Safety Policies
In addition to building capacity through effective leadership, community outreach, and stakeholder participation, it is important to build capacity through the physical buildings of the organization. Safe, clean, and aesthetically pleasing environments are created and maintained by all personnel who work and attend a particular school. In this section, you will have the chance to develop step-by-step guidance for use in the classroom during emergency situations, you will take a stance on zero-tolerance policies, and you will complete a research paper on a self-selected topic pertaining to school safety.

Required Reading:
Please refer to each activity, within Activity Resources, for the required readings.

Assignment 6  Formulating Campus Policies

Preparation for school emergencies is essential. Students must be informed of specific actions to take in dangerous situations. Teachers and students that have a well rehearsed plan for events will react calmly and be able to react to commands and directions. Please go to the following site, and watch at least two training videos about emergency management for schools:

Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools (REMS) Training Videos

Activity Resources
•    School Safety Planning Manual by the State of Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction – School Safety Center
•    School Safety and Security Toolkit by the National Crime Prevention Council
•    Brunner, J. M., & Lewis, D. K. (2009)., Chapters 3 and 4
o    Chapter 3: Professional Development
    Strategy 20: Is Your School Up to Speed on Safety?
    Strategy 21: What Teachers Must Know About Safety
    Strategy 22: Training Support Staff to Respond Appropriately
    Strategy 24: Holiday Blues: Responding to Seasonally Despondent Students
    Strategy 25: Tabletop Exercises: The Ultimate Tool for School Safety Training
    Strategy 26: There’s No “Substitute” for Good Safety
o    Chapter 4: Top Ten
    Strategy 27: School Safety’s Top Ten: The Top Ten Things to Remember When Creating a Safe School Environment
Pre-Activity
1.    Review the School Safety and Security Toolkit by the National Crime Prevention Council
2.    Review the School Safety Planning Manual Guide to get a better idea of what entails such a document.
3.    Read Chapters 3 and 4 in your text.
Main Task: Design a Safety Manual Section

For this Activity, you have watched at least two Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools (REMS) Training Videos, reviewed the School Safety and Security Kit, reviewed the School Safety Planning Manual Guide, and read Chapters 3 and 4 in your text. You now have a better idea of what entails a Safety Manual. For this task, you will create a single section of a School Safety Manual. Your section of the manual should address the four following types of emergencies:
•    Fire – procedures and the rationalization for student and staff
•    Tornado or other natural disaster– procedures and the rationalization for student and staff
•    Medical emergency– procedures and the rationalization for student and staff
•    School Shooting– procedures and the rationalization for student and staff
You may include graphics and illustrations as you deem necessary. You may use Word, Publisher, or other similar software program to complete this assignment.

Need assistance creating a manual? Visit the ‘Create an Employment Manual’ site.

Length: 5-7 pages (text and graphics)

Your safety manual should demonstrate thoughtful consideration of the ideas and concepts that are presented in the course and provide new thoughts and insights relating directly to this topic. Your response should reflect scholarly writing and current APA standards where appropriate. Be sure to adhere to the  University’s Academic Integrity Policy.

Submit your document in the Course Work area below the Activity screen.