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A Board Shouldn’t Think It Won’t Happen Here
(An article by Regina Haney, Executive Director of the National Association of Boards, Commissions and Councils of Catholic Education, that appeared in NCEA Notes, September 1998)
Last year a number of school shootings shocked the nation. This caused educators and parents to rethink school safety.
One of the functions of a school board is to ensure the safety of students and staff. It is the board’s responsibility to develop policies for preventing and responding to violent incidents. Here are some suggestions for board members to consider:
1. Ensure that school policies contain clear directives for dealing with threats. According to Sr. Mary Angela Shaugnessy, SCN, "While many of us grew up saying and hearing things like, ‘I’ll kill you,’ such words cannot be ignored today. Every school or program must have a policy that will be taken very seriously. Students who make such threats can return only if they receive a written recommendation from the psychologist/psychiatrist, and the administration is willing to receive them. If students are taken back into the program, their parents must be notified in writing that a second offense will result in automatic expulsion. A policy should be in place for all employees that mirrors the student policy, with the exception that, if a threat is verified, the employee is dismissed."
2. Check to see if a crisis management plan is in place. If not, form a committee representing the board, teachers, parents and students and establish steps to be taken in a crisis situation. An excellent outline is published in the NCEA book, Crisis Management in Catholic Schools.
3. Become informed. Use some time during board meetings to digest and discuss information. Two NCEA resources are A Sense of Justice: Catholic Education, the Law and You, a video series by Mary Angela Shaughnessy, SCN, and a pamphlet in the Thumbnail series, The Board and Safety Issues.
"Be prepared" is a motto not just for boy scouts. Boards in collaboration with administrators need to be prepared to deal with a crisis quickly and decisively.
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National Catholic Educational Association
