Student safety No. 1 priority at MSBSD

In the wake of the tragic shooting at an elementary school in Connecticut Dec. 14, I want to address concerns about safety in our schools here in the Mat-Su Borough School District. Safety is our No. 1 priority and we take every action possible to keep our students and staff safe.

I’m sure I join the MSBSD School Board, district administrators, all principals, teachers and every school employee in echoing President Obama’s words that, “Our hearts are broken today, for the parents, grandparents, sisters, and brothers of these little children, as well as the families of the adults who were lost.”

Please know as you send your children off to school each day that:

• MSBSD has an up-to-date district-wide emergency and safety plan in place.

• MSBSD requires regular and systemic training for all employees in safety and security to implement the safety plan for a school or the district as a whole.

• MSBSD has outlined plans of action in case of these types of incidents: bomb threat, earthquake, hazardous materials/environmental crisis, exposure to blood borne pathogens/body fluids, evacuation plan for fire or explosion.

And, the portion of the plan that directly addresses incidents such as the one in Connecticut is titled “Visitors in Building.” The procedures in place are these:

• Insist that all staff and visitors wear and display in a visible manner MSBSD employee identification badge or a guest/visitor badge providing a credible reason for being present in a school or on school property. All employees need to wear their school district IDs so the badges are visible at all times. If not, then they are issued a visitor badge.

• Stop every visitor who enters the building and require that they sign in.

• Every person with or without an MSBSD ID must sign in at each facility they are visiting.

• Determine a process for receiving items from visitors delivering or dropping-off packages.

• Ask visitors to report to main office to sign in and obtain a guest pass, button or badge.

• Greet all strangers in hallways and inquire where they are supposed to be or their purpose for being in a school. If wearing a visitor badge, escort them to their destination and ensure they connect with their intended party.

• If a visitor in a school does not have a visitor badge, escort him/her to the front office where a badge may be obtained.

• Report all strangers encountered in the hallways without a visitor badge to the office.

• Attempt to de-escalate the situation if a visitor becomes abusive or confrontational.

• If unable to de-escalate, consider a “Stay Put” mode or “School Lock Down” and law enforcement assistance.

Other sections of the MSBSD safety plan and training relates to violent person(s), suspected drugs, alcohol or weapons, hostage or weapons situation that escalates to violence, and how to conduct a campus closure or lockdown.

All of the advisories about school safety carry this reminder: Remember that your primary responsibility is the safety of your students, staff, visitors and yourself. Do not put anyone in jeopardy.

In 2008, Mat-Su voters approved a $19.1 million safety and security bond, which also included $5 million in capital projects. The $14 million tagged for safety and security in MSBSD schools provided surveillance cameras, new fencing, keyless lock entries, added and upgraded telephone systems, improved exterior lighting, and so-called “panic buttons” that would trigger a building-wide lock down, notifying emergency dispatch with the push of a button. All of the work at the schools was completed providing upgraded interior and exterior improvements to all Mat-Su Borough school facilities.

As superintendent, please know that I am committed to your child’s safety and the wellbeing of every student and employee in the Mat-Su Borough School District. Every day lived by a child is a gift to that child and we desire to safeguard those gifts.

Deena M. Paramo is superintendent of the Mat-Su Borough School District.