Most members of the Nebraska education community know that the
Nebraska Department of Education has adopted new School Safety and
Security Standards and related guidance. You can access the new Standards
and the related NDE guidance documents here. Schools will need to begin
working to assess their compliance with these Standards throughout the
2016-17 school year.
The safety and security standards are broken down into four distinct
subject areas:
Prevention: Aimed at preventing incidents;
Preparedness: Targeted at limiting incident casualties, destruction,
and chaos;
Response: Intended planning to respond to an incident; and
Recovery: Designed actions to return the climate and environment to
pre-incident conditions.
Each of these four standard areas is then broken down into discrete
indicators. There are a total of 50 distinct implementation indicators, each
of which schools must self-assess and report to the State School Security
Director.
Potential Confusion with Safety Committees
One potential source of confusion in the School Safety and Security
Standards is the requirement that each district appoint a safety committee
to conduct the self-assessment and to craft an All-Hazards Plan. In 1993,
the Nebraska Legislature enacted a statute which requires each employer to
have a “safety committee.” See NEB. REV. STAT. § 48-443; 230 NEB. ADMIN. CODE,
Chapter 6, Sections 2(A) and 2(B). The purpose of these safety committees
is to “reduce worker' compensation costs for all employers through
enhanced safety and health in the workplace.” 230 NEB. ADMIN. CODE, Chapter
6, Section 3(A). These safety committees are required to meet at least once
every three months to develop ideas regarding to reduce hazards affecting
work place safety. Most schools and school attorneys have referred to these
committees as “safety committees” over the last 20 years. However, these
committees do not typically meet with local law enforcement, discuss how to
respond to possible school shooters, address school climate or perform any
of the tasks that are required by the School Safety and Security Standards.
Each board of education should consider how it will distinguish
between the “safety committee” required by NEB. REV. STAT. § 48-443 and the
“safety committee” required by the School Safety and Security Standards.
The board should also consider if it would be useful to require the two
committees to confer so that the two groups don’t duplicate each other’s
work.
Other Possible Policy Revisions
Obviously, each school will have to review its existing All-Hazards Plan
and those plans will likely require substantial revisions. Additionally, most
boards of education will need to review and consider revisions to several of
their policies. Some of the policies which you should review in light of the
protocols:
Denial of Access to School Premises or Activities
Threat Assessment
Suicide Prevention Training
Immunizations
Dating Violence
Student Bullying
Student Assistance Team Procedures
We have worked with Jolene Palmer, the State School Security Officer, to
assist schools in preparing to comply with these standards and updating our
policies. If you have additional questions about compliance with the Safety
and Security Standards, you should consult with Ms. Palmer, your school
district’s attorney, or call Karen, Steve, or Bobby.