Goal Area: Safe and Caring Schools
Create a safe, inclusive and supportive school community by continuing to enhance consistent school security, fostering a sense of belonging, strengthening student support services and enhancing communication between schools, families and the community to ensure a welcoming and secure learning environment for all.
1. Physical Safety and Security Measures
- Enhance School Safety Measures:
Regularly evaluate and enhance security technology, while providing ongoing staff training and protocol updates to ensure a consistently secure and responsive school environment. - Maintain Partnerships with First Responders:
Work with police, fire departments and emergency teams to refine safety protocols, conduct drills and implement best-practice security strategies. - Ensure Appropriate Safety Staffing:
Regularly assess and ensure the appropriate number of safety staff while implementing a continuous improvement framework to address evolving security needs and maintain a safe school environment.
2. Mental Health and Student Well-Being
- Maintain Mental Health and Student Support:
Maintain multi-tiered systems of support through the training of all educators and continuing to ensure equitable access to counselors, social workers and other mental health resources. - Increase Awareness of Support Services:
Improve outreach so students and families are aware of mental health programs, social services and school-based resources.
3. Positive School Climate and Relationships
- Foster a Culture of Belonging:
Expand peer mentorship, educational access and dignity and belonging initiatives to help all students and staff feel valued and included. - Foster Positive Relationships:
Maintain open communication and proactively address concerns to foster collaborative problem-solving. - Implement Conflict Resolution and Restorative Practices:
Expand peer mediation, social-emotional learning-based interventions and restorative programs to reduce conflict, promote empathy and strengthen student and staff relationships.
4. Proactive Communication and Training
- Enhance Communication and Transparency:
Establish clear, proactive communication between schools, students, families and safety personnel to build trust and ensure shared responsibility for a safe learning environment. - Expand Safety and Social-Emotional Learning Training:
Provide regular training for staff, students and families on emergency procedures and social-emotional learning strategies.
5. Prevention and Follow-Up
- Address Substance Use and Prevention:
Expand substance use prevention education, ensuring access to early intervention programs and recovery resources. - Wellness Re-entry Plan:
Enhance the structured re-entry process for students returning from disciplinary events, substance use treatment or any long-term absence providing academic support, counseling and strategies to promote long-term success and well-being.