Student safety always priority for Mat-Su schools

Each school day, the Mat-Su School District provides education for more than 16,000 students in 41 schools.

Incredible things happen when that many individuals plus staff come together daily: students learn demanding subject matter, personal bests are achieved in academic and athletic settings, friendships are made and the moral fabric that makes a great community is woven tighter. Spending a day in one of our schools is likely to turn the most pessimistic person into an optimist of the human condition.

However, incidents do occur that give us shocking reminders that some students in our schools are troubled, lost and confused at times in their development toward adulthood. Occasionally, these emotions are expressed through acts that threaten the well-being and safety of those who attend and work in a school.

The students and staff of three schools in the Mat-Su over the past month have been victimized by threats of violence written on restroom walls. Even though the writers of these threats did not identify themselves and the threats were general in nature, the staff of the schools and the district regarded these as serious and interpreted them literally. Law enforcement was notified immediately, as is always the case. Police, along with the school district, have no tolerance for these threats of

violence.

The safety of students is of the utmost importance to the Mat-Su Borough schools. As superintendent, my focus is safe schools where students learn to their potential. Such schools open doors for all students by building a foundation of high expectations, rigorous content and persistent support. District schools use a variety of security measures in daily efforts to provide safe and secure learning environments. These measures reflect the community’s high expectations for school safety and include the following:

Mat-Su School District Safety and Security Committee: The committee presented to the school board policy drafts addressing school safety and security that were adopted. The committee reviewed all schools in the district and is making recommendations to the school board on building and campus improvements, audio communications, surveillance technology and emergency response equipment.

School safety/security coordinators: Each of the three large core area high schools has a safety/security coordinator. Wasilla High School shares a police officer, titled as a school resource officer, from the Wasilla Police Department. The district also has a risk manager who has an extensive history of working in safety and security for the military and Alaska State Emergency Management and Homeland Security.

Emergency management plans: The MSBSD has emergency management and crisis response plans in place at each school and a district-wide crisis and emergency response plan. These plans serve as an operating guide for a wide range of emergencies and reflect each school's unique characteristics. The district crisis and emergency response plan is used as a guide for all schools to consider when reviewing their crisis plans to ensure compatibility and consistency throughout the district. We audit and practice these plans throughout the year.

Safe School Help Line: Students and their families may call 1-800-418-6423 to anonymously report safety or other concerns at their schools. Tips are investigated and handled internally or forwarded to law enforcement as appropriate. This help line provides a method of reporting criminal concerns was well as those that may not rise to the level of needing law enforcement intervention.

Connect Ed phone link to parents: In spring 2005, the district implemented Connect-ED communication services for rapid emergency notification. This is a phone-based notification system that enables the district to send messages via telephone to parents.

Olweus Anti Bullying Program: This is an anti-bullying program that includes school-wide and classroom level activities, individual interventions with bullies and victims and community involvement. This violence prevention program combines the effort of all school staff (including teachers, principals, school counselors, cafeteria workers, custodians, bus drivers, etc.), as well as students, parents and other members of the community, to reduce bullying and other violent behaviors.

Few events hit the hearts of children and families like threats to students or, worse yet, school tragedies. When events like this are seen on television or other places in the media, it is natural for children and parents to worry about safety. Please be assured that the school district takes many other precautions to help ensure the safety of students.

I encourage all parents to continue communicating with the school district about this and any issue. Communication is a critical element for the Mat-Su to be a high-performing school district with top-quality learning environments for every school.

George Troxel is superintendent for Mat-Su Borough School District.