By LAURA HAMMACK, guest columnist
This is the second in a series of two columns detailing school safety improvements that have taken place in Brown County Schools over the summer and into the upcoming school year.
In the last column, I outlined the district-wide and community-engaged active shooter training system called “ALICE.” Members from the school district have already received phase one training, and a comprehensive group from the community and schools will receive a two-day intensive onsite phase two training before school starts. This active shooter plan will significantly enhance our school district’s comprehensive safety plan. We will secure a district certification in the model when our training is completed.
Additionally, the district has been engaged in security enhancements that are realized in capital improvements, technological enhancements, training, additions of personnel and resources for mental health support.
Capital improvements are any modifications or additions to the physical space of our school district. Last year, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of our schools and identified key areas of concern related to student and staff safety. A significant capital outlay has been expended to place 3M safety and security film to windows and doorways at all school locations in the district. This film slows down the entry of a bullet and significantly reduces any harm for individuals on the other side.
Line of sight for school buildings is a significant safety priority. Brown County Intermediate School is one of our last schools without an outside video call locking door entry system. Because of the challenges with the front entry at BCIS, we are engaging in a front entryway redesign for that school building. The redesign will provide line of sight for the front office and will also include a front entryway video call locking door system, making BCIS a much more secure facility than ever before.
All of our schools will have kiosks installed in their main offices for all visitors to use as a check-in system that uses a photo ID. These kiosks will run the name of all visitors through the system to ensure that the visitor is not on a sex offender registry or is not wanted by law enforcement. Visitors will also be issued a name tag so that students and staff can recognize if someone is in the building who should not be present.
Van Buren Elementary School is our last school to have a video camera system installed throughout the building. This installation is scheduled to be in place before the start of the school year. Having a comprehensive video camera system in place throughout the school significantly assists with security from outside threats, and is also very helpful to assist with safety and behavioral issues that take place in the hallways or on the playground.
Our outlying schools will have a significant number of protective barrier bollards installed to prevent school buses or other vehicles from jumping curbs and injuring pedestrians on sidewalks or by school entryways. Readers may remember when a Lawrence Township elementary school principal was struck and killed in 2016 as she was trying to get students out of the way of a school bus that had accidentally jumped a curb. These bollards will stand in the way of any vehicles that could accidentally or intentionally hurt a pedestrian.
One of the most significant enhancements that is not easily seen, but is massive in impact, is the integration of a technology solution that aligns our school phones, public address systems, computers and personal cellphones for an instant, on-demand ability to call a lockdown from any location in all of our school buildings. Previously, we have never been able to call a lockdown from anywhere in a building, except the main office. Now, if ANYONE sees a threat, an alert can be issued from any phone in the building. Additionally, that alert will be pushed out by the public address system, to all computers, and to personal cellphones so that all individuals have instant updates regarding what is taking place in the school building.
Our buildings are aging and many of our doors are getting rotted and rusted. The school district is conducting a comprehensive review of all of our doors to ensure that they are safe and secure. If a doorway is found to be in poor repair, it is being replaced so that security is maximized.
All of the corporation school buses are receiving the highest quality bus camera video recording system. These systems provide crystal clear video images and capture high quality sound. The cameras have an ability to provide much more detail and reach many more spaces than our previous video camera systems. The installation of these camera systems will significantly increase our ability to improve behavior on our school buses which will add to the safety and security of the riders and drivers.
I am thrilled to share with the community that Brown County Schools was just awarded a Secured School Safety Grant from the Indiana Department of Homeland Security. This grant will allow us to partner with the Brown County Sheriff’s Department for a full-time school resource officer (SRO). School resource officers engage in comprehensive training with the National Association of School Resource Officers before they begin working with students. Our SRO will be housed at Brown County High School, but will have the ability to work in all of our schools. We can’t wait until we can get someone hired, trained and working with our students and staff!
The governor just unveiled a program where school districts are able to order one handheld metal detector for every 250 students enrolled in the district at no cost. Our district qualifies for seven of these devices and I have already placed the order. Before we implement a protocol of using these devices, we need to update our policies and train our staff on how and when to use these devices. We are grateful to the governor’s office for this additional layer of protection for students and staff in our schools.
Our schools continue to support the online anonymous reporting system called “Safe Schools.” Anyone can call, text, report on the web or email an anonymous report of any concerns related to school safety. Our students are using this system and we have been able to make several interventions related to school safety because students have been willing to report when they observe unsafe situations. Check out the system at: https://brownco-in.safeschoolsalert.com.
Lastly, the school district understands that with all of the capital and technological improvements that are made, addressing the mental health and wellness of our students and staff must be a fundamental component of our comprehensive school safety plan. This year, because of grants from a variety of sources, we will have a social/emotional learning curriculum in place for all grade levels. We have also contracted with a state leader in social/emotional learning, positive behavioral intervention supports, and trauma-informed care for one year that is paid totally by grant funding. This leader will be analyzing our current systems and will lead training for teachers, administrators and staff in how to be more responsive to the social and emotional needs of our students. We believe that when students are socially and emotionally well, they are safer and more able to engage in academic rigor.
While we are very proud of the efforts that have been made over the last few months, we still have work to do. We are committed to keeping a profound focus on school safety improvements and enhancements, as the safety of our students and staff is our most significant and treasured responsibility.
Laura Hammack is superintendent of Brown County schools. She can be reached at 812-988-6601 or [email protected].
