EDUCATIONAL SERVICE DELIVERY
This chapter discusses the Water Valley Independent School District's (WVISD's) educational service delivery system and student performance measures in four sections:
- A. Curriculum, Instructional Resources and Student Performance
- B. Special Programs
- C. Alternative Education Programs and Dropout Prevention
- D. Safety and Security
D. SAFETY AND SECURITY
One of the most critical issues facing school districts today is the need to provide safe and secure schools. Children and staff have a right to expect their schools to be free from harm and to be a secure environment that is conducive to learning. The 1995 Texas Legislature amended Chapter 37 of the Texas Education Code to require each school to adopt a student code of conduct for discipline management and to establish consequences for misbehavior. The code also requires each school district to create an alternative education program for students who are misbehaving. In addition, the Texas Education Agency collects and publishes data from each school district that describes incidents of violent and criminal activity on school grounds.
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 meted out across a district. Keeping Texas Children Safe in School, published by TSPR in 2000, is an attempt to help school officials think about safety and security on their campuses in new ways. According to the report, an effective program of safety and security begins with an understanding of three key elements:
- Prevention, which is the foundation for deterring crime and violence (such as published codes of conduct with clearly delineated expectations and punitive measures for violations);
- Intervention, which is assessing situations and acting before events go too far (such as reminding students of the consequences of misbehavior); and
- Enforcement, which is what occurs in the aftermath (such as moving a student to an alternative education program).
FINDING
The WVISD elementary principal was not aware that the district had a Crisis Management Manual. During interviews with the high school principal, TSPR discovered the district Crisis Management Manual. The manual was obtained through Region 15, and contains the essential elements for responding to crisis. The elementary principal told TSPR the plan had not been shared with the elementary principal or staff.
WVISD also has current student code of conduct and student handbooks. The district requires students and parents to sign and return a form enclosed in the student code of conduct handbook acknowledging they read and understood the rules and other contents of the handbook.
Recommendation 21:
Provide a Crisis Management Manual and training to the elementary school principal and staff.
All staff members should be provided access to the crisis management manual and training to ensure that everyone knows what to do if a crisis occurs.
IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES AND TIMELINE
1. The superintendent provides the Crisis Management Plan to the elementary principal. October 2001 2. The superintendent and principal develop a training session based on the districts Crisis Management Plan for all district staff. November 2001 3. The principal conducts training session for campus staff. January 2002 4. District administrators obtain training from Region 15 at least once a year or more often if needed. Ongoing FISCAL IMPACT
This recommendation can be implemented with existing resources.