Durango Connection » Some Best Practices for School Safety

Some Best Practices for School Safety

  • We are all part of the safety and security team:

    • All personnel (admin, teachers, facilities, transportation, food services, etc…) are responsible for safety.

    • Research has shown and our own students have told us that most incidents, such as bullying and vandalism, occur in the time between classes and in the gathering areas (i.e. lunchtime).

    • All personnel should assist in monitoring students during these times.  The more eyes that we have on the students, the better we can monitor their safety and enhance their peace of mind.

  • Take ownership in your immediate area:

    • School buildings are large areas that are virtually impossible for just one person to secure.  But make it your mission that nothing unsafe will happen in your immediate area (i.e. classroom, hallway outside your classroom, and exit doors near your area).

  • Why a five-pound rock is so dangerous:

    • Durango School District has invested a significant amount of funding in their school safety.  But even the value of one of our new security vestibules is nullified because a staff member uses a rock to prop open a door, even just for a few moments.  If each employee (approx. 880) propped a door open for even just one minute each month, that would be equivalent to 14.7 hours a door is unsecured.  Along those same lines, leaving your classroom window open is equally as dangerous. 

  • The importance of communications:

    • Being able to effectively communicate during an incident is essential and the first thing to break down.

    • Durango School District has invested a significant amount of money into communications, specifically handheld radios.  Ensure that you maintain and charge your radios and bring them to each event, incident, and especially to fire drills, and exercises

  • The importance of attendance:

    • Parents have entrusted us to look after their children.  We must ensure that we know where they are at all times while being driven to school, throughout the day, and driven back home.

  • The introduction of hazardous materials and chemicals:

    • Each staff member must ensure that before they bring hazardous materials into a school that they receive the authorization of their school administration and properly log the materials into the school’s material safety data sheets (MSDS).

 
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