EDUCATIONAL SERVICE DELIVERY
This chapter discusses the Veribest Independent School District's (VISD's) educational service delivery system and student performance measures in three sections:
- A. Student Performance
- B. Special Programs
- C. Safety and Security
C. SAFETY AND SECURITY
One of the most critical issues facing school districts today is the need to provide safe and secure schools. Parents have a right to expect that their children will be free from harm and their schools are secure environments conducive to learning. But in recent years, research indicates that educators, parents and students perceive that crime and violence in schools is increasing. According to a Texas School Performance Review (TSPR) report, Keeping Texas Children Safe in School, issued by the Comptroller's office in January 2000, criminal activity in schools is indeed escalating.
In 1995, the Texas Legislature addressed the issue of school violence by revising Chapter 37 of the TEC, requiring that each school adopt a student code of conduct for discipline management and set out consequences for misbehavior. The code also requires that each school district create an alternative education program for misconduct. In addition, the TEA collects and publishes data from each school district that describes occurrences of violent and criminal activity on school grounds. Clearly, the state of Texas places a high value on the rights of children to attend public schools that provide a safe, secure learning environment.
In reviews of more than 30 school districts, TSPR has found that school districts are struggling to enforce state laws and that discipline is not evenly administered. Keeping Texas Children Safe in School is a TSPR attempt to cause school officials to think differently about safety and security on their campuses. According to the report, an effective program of safety and security begins with an understanding of three key elements:
- Prevention, which is the foundation laid to deter crime and violence (such as published codes of conduct with clearly delineated expectations and punitive measures for violations);
- Intervention, which is stepping in before a situation goes to far (such as reminding students of the consequences of misbehavior); and
- Enforcement, which is what occurs in the aftermath of crime or violence (such as moving a student to an alternative education program).
Exhibit 2-17 summarizes the results of the parent surveys on their opinions of the district's safety and security issues.
Exhibit 2-17 Source: TSPR Surveys.
Parent Survey
Safety and Security*
Survey Questions Strongly Agree Agree No Opinion Disagree Strongly Disagree Students feel safe and secure at school. 26.2% 64.6% 4.6% 4.6% 0.0% School disturbances are infrequent. 21.5% 69.2% 6.2% 3.1% 0.0% Gangs are not a problem in this district. 36.9% 53.8% 4.6% 3.1% 1.5% Drugs are not a problem in this district. 26.2% 44.6% 9.2% 18.5% 1.5% Vandalism is not a problem in this district. 30.8% 49.2% 7.7% 10.8% 1.5% Security personnel have a good working relationship with principals and teachers. 7.7% 30.8% 55.4% 4.6% 1.5% Security personnel are respected and liked by the students they serve. 9.2% 23.1% 64.6% 1.5% 1.5% A good working arrangement exists between the local law enforcement and the district. 15.4% 56.9% 21.6% 6.2% 0.0% Students receive fair and equitable discipline for misconduct. 21.5% 44.6% 21.6% 6.2% 6.2% Safety hazards do not exist on school grounds. 9.7% 33.9% 22.6% 21.0% 12.9%
*Rounded off percentages may not add to 100 percent.Exhibit 2-18 summarizes the results of the teacher's surveys on their opinions of the district's safety and security issues.
Exhibit 2-18 Source: TSPR Surveys.
Teacher Survey
Safety and Security*
Survey Questions Strongly Agree Agree No Opinion Disagree Strongly Disagree School disturbances are infrequent. 27.3% 72.7% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Gangs are not a problem in this district. 27.3% 63.6% 0.0% 9.1% 0.0% Drugs are not a problem in this district. 9.1% 45.5% 27.3% 18.2% 0.0% Vandalism is not a problem in this district. 9.1% 72.7% 0.0% 18.2% 0.0% Security personnel have a good working relationship with principals and teachers. 0.0% 18.2% 81.8% 0.0% 0.0% Security personnel are respected and liked by the students they serve. 0.0% 18.2% 81.8% 0.0% 0.0% A good working arrangement exists between the local law enforcement and the district. 9.1% 72.7% 18.2% 0.0% 0.0% Students receive fair and equitable discipline for misconduct. 9.1% 54.5% 18.2% 9.1% 9.1% Safety hazards do not exist on school grounds. 0.0% 45.5% 9.1% 36.4% 9.1% School disturbances are infrequent. 27.3% 72.7% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%
*Rounded off percentages may not add to 100 percent.Both parents and teachers appear generally satisfied with safety and security issues, although both groups show some concern over safety hazards existing on school grounds.
FINDING
VISD improved its safety measures by establishing a crisis management plan in August 2000. The management plan provides a methodology for dealing with natural or operational situations that can occur in the district. The plan addresses the following areas: emergency evacuation plans, dealing with tornadoes, hurricanes, inclement weather, bomb threats, fire, gas leaks, deaths, suicide and child abuse. In addition, the plan lists emergency phone numbers for the Police Department, Fire Department, Emergency Medical Services, Poison Control Center, Utility Department, and phone and pager numbers for crisis team personnel
A chain of command list is included in the plan, as well as the personnel designated to communicate with the media.
TSPR parent and teacher surveys indicate that most respondents feel safe at VISD. VISD board members and administrators take an assertive stance toward most crisis related issues. The implementation of the crisis management plan helps make parents and teachers feel the school is safe.
COMMENDATION
VISD effectively prepares for emergency situations by implementing an emergency crisis management plan.
FINDING
VISD students and staff do not routinely practice fire or tornado drills. Although VISD has made great strides in adopting a crisis management plan, it is still lacking in the area of tornado or fire evacuation drill procedures. During teacher focus group discussions and a public forum, teachers and parents in the district expressed concern over the lack of routine drills. Some elementary teachers said that they practiced their own drills.
All schools should practice fire drills, and if a school is located in an area that is prone to tornadoes, such as in west Texas, the schools should also practice routine tornado drills. VISD Policy CKC-Local states that "principals shall conduct fire, tornado, or other emergency drills designed to assure the orderly movement of students and personnel to the safest areas available."
Such drills are necessary to ensure the proper operation of alarm equipment, to ensure that everyone, especially younger children, know which exits are to be used in emergencies and to ensure that everyone knows where to gather upon evacuation. In addition, procedures for communicating with children on playgrounds and in transport on buses are also important.
VISD does not have fire and tornado drill procedures on the district's Web site.
Recommendation 23:
Practice tornado and fire evacuation drills.
Regular fire and tornado drills will help ensure the safety of all students and staff, and VISD should place fire and tornado drill procedures on the district's Web site.
IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES AND TIMELINE
1. The superintendent meets with the principal to develop tornado and fire evacuation drill procedures. September 2001 2. The principal meets with teachers to discuss tornado and fire evacuation drill procedures. September 2001 3. The superintendent performs tornado and fire evacuation drill. October 2001 4. The superintendent directs the technology coordinator to place the fire and tornado drill procedures on the district's Web site. October 2001 5. The superintendent performs a drill at least 3 times a year for each type of evacuation. Ongoing FISCAL IMPACT
This recommendation can be implemented with existing resources.
FINDING
VISD's portable buildings do not have fire alarms and, therefore, are not in compliance with state fire-code standards.
VISD added portable buildings to its campus in 1997 when it added a ninth grade. The district now has six portable buildings that are used as classrooms and one portable building that is used as administrative offices. None of these portable structures have fire alarms installed.
Recommendation 24:
Install fire alarms in all portable buildings.
Installing fire alarms in all portable buildings will help ensure the safety of VISD's students and staff. The district should consult and collaborate with the local Fire Department to ensure that these improvements will bring its portable facilities up to state fire-code standards.
IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES AND TIMELINE
1. The superintendent meets with the local fire department official in the county to properly determine the needs of the portable buildings. September 2001 2. The superintendent obtains quotes for the installation of a fire-alarm system for all portable buildings. September 2001 3. The superintendent selects a vendor to perform the installation of fire alarms. October 2001 FISCAL IMPACT
Based on telephone estimates, alarm systems will cost $125, and pull handles will be $70, for a total of $195 each. There are seven buildings, so the total cost will be $1,365 (7 x $195) plus $275 for installation.
In addition, the Texas Engineering Practice Act requires that this type of installation work be inspected. Estimates for this type of inspection ranged from $200 to $1,200. To estimate this fiscal impact, the mid-point of these two estimates, $700, will be used. The total one-time cost estimate for this fiscal impact is $2,340 ($1,365 alarms + $275 installation + $700 inspection).
Recommendation 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 Install fire alarms in all portable buildings. ($2,340) $0 $0 $0 $0