April 2019 School Administrator: School Security and Crisis Handling

April 2019: School Administrator

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This issue looks at various facets of safety and security in schools.

Additional Articles

Taking on Goliath: Applying for FEMA Mitigation Funds for Schools Richard L. Asbill, superintendent, Cassville R-IV School District (Mo.)
One superintendent shares tips for applying for federal emergency funds
Sworn to Serve and Protect Barbara Michelman, freelance education writer, Alexandria (Va.)
As safety concerns mount, the expectations escalate for school resource officers to be a positive force in K-12 schools
The Deliberate Step of Arming Our Campus Police Joseph N. Meloche, superintendent Cherry Hill Public Schools, Cherry Hill (N.J.)
A superintendent shares about the decision to arm campus officers
Soft and Safe School Design B. Karina Ruiz
Mitigating the possibilities of a violent act through architectural features that attend to students鈥� social-emotional needs
The Structural Rebuild of Sandy Hook, One Critical Decision at a Time Joseph B. Erardi Jr.
The superintendent in Newtown, Conn. describes challenges of leadership after the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre in December 2012.
A Holistic Approach to School Safety Christine A. Eith and Kenneth S. Trump
锘� Is it possible and practical to balance metal detectors and mental detectors?
Lockdowns at School: Differing Views Over What Works Christine Eith and Kenneth Trump
Lockdowns became a staple in school emergency plans following the massacre at Columbine High School in 1999.
Board Emphasis
What school boards most want their superintendents to emphasize in their roles.
Advocating Arts or Athletics?
The school board splits its vote on what to cut in a budget shortfall, turning to the superintendent to make the call.
A Tweet Mightier Than the Sword Walter G. Jackson
The superintendent's use of social media shows "hip" leadership to millennials and young families.
Pratfalls of Electronic Communication Sara Boucek
Stemming senseless behavior of the adults when using district e-mail.
Changing Mindsets, Changing Adult Behaviors Marcia McMahon, co-director for governance solutions, NXTBoard (TX)
Turning a board meeting of information into a meeting of action toward student results.
Our Words Matter Peter C. Blake, superintendent, Rome City School District (N.Y.)
Increasingly, our youngest children are coming to school using language that is coarse, vulgar and lewd.
Scaling Innovation by Charting, Not Choosing Beth Rabbitt and Ellie Avishai
Any superintendent will tell you that making strategic leadership decisions feels like a tug-of-war between competing priorities.
Engagement That Boosts Student Reading Mike Poore is superintendent of the Little Rock School District in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Little Rock, Ark., superintendent鈥檚 three goals for lifting student literacy.
Always Being Prepared Chris Gaines
AS A YOUTH, I worked as an aquatics instructor and lifeguard at Boy Scout Camp Lewallen outside St. Louis. As part of the job, I was taught how to maintain safety in and around the pool and how to respond appropriately to crisis situations.
91制片's Rapid Response in Crisis Moments Daniel A. Domenech
The association鈥檚 investment in helping leaders deal with catastrophic moments.
Becoming a Cop to Protect 'My Kids' Liz Griffin
A superintendent in rural Illinois becomes a cop to protect 鈥渕y kids.鈥�

Staff

Jay P. Goldman
Editor

jgoldman@aasa.org

703-875-0745
Liz Griffin
Managing Editor

lgriffin@aasa.org

703-875-0753
Juli Valentine

Editor's Note

A New Normal

TANNERSVILLE IS a tiny 200-year-old village (population 539) located inside the sprawling Catskill State Park in upstate New York. It鈥檚 also the location where Susan Vickers as the superintendent of the small school system is trying desperately to make sense of her role right now.

Ever since the mass shooting in Parkland, Fla., last February, she has been expected to be her school community鈥檚 answer person on all things related to safety and security for the 372 students and 102 staff who make up the Hunter-Tannersville Central Schools. Like most educators who land in school leadership because of their knowhow in teaching and learning, pedagogy, personnel management and student support, Vickers faced a steep learning curve to become conversant in matters of school fortification and 鈥渉ardening鈥� classrooms.

Two nights after Parkland, at a school board meeting, Vickers pleaded with the board and community to begin action to replace all interior doors in the schools, built in 1931.

Now 14 months later, she says, 鈥淢y knowledge of this issue is growing daily.鈥� But the angst of feeling ill-prepared to protect those in her care hasn鈥檛 fully subsided. She concedes, 鈥淲e are only one page ahead of [the Monday morning quarterbacks] in understanding what to do.鈥�

In publishing her piece 鈥�Education Leader and Security Professional鈥� as the lead feature this month, we see Susan Vickers as the representation of everyone who leads a public school system today when the new normal, as she puts it, 鈥渉as to be a strong disposition to protect.鈥�

Jay P. Goldman
Editor, School Administrator
703-875-0745
jgoldman@aasa.org

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