Emergency Response and Preparedness Training Overview of School Violence National Labor College August 6, 2008 – Silver Spring, Maryland Sterling Roberson Director of School Safety and Health United Federation of Teachers, Local # 2 This material was produced under grant number SH F-11 from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor. These materials do not necessarily reflect views or policies of the U.S. Department of Labor, nor does mention of any trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

A Collective Responsibility n Teachers n Administrators n Parents n Community n Students Safety in Schools

SCOPE OF THE PROBLEM Centers of Disease Control and Prevention n Over a five (5) year period from , teachers were the victims of approximately 1,603,000 nonfatal crimes at school. teachers were the victims of approximately 1,603,000 nonfatal crimes at school. n This includes 1,004,000 thefts and 599,000 violent crimes (assaults, robbery, rape, and sex offense). n On average, this translates into 321,000 nonfatal crimes, and 80,000 violent crimes per year.

SCOPE OF THE PROBLEM Senate Judiciary Committee on Media Violence By the age of 18, an American child has seen: n 16,000 simulated murders n 200,000 acts of violence = 11,111 acts of violence per year = 11,111 acts of violence per year = 926 acts of violence per month = 926 acts of violence per month = 214 acts of violence per week = 214 acts of violence per week = 31 acts of violence per day = 31 acts of violence per day

Percentage of Law Enforcement Agencies Reporting Gang Problems, Gang Problems Reported in 2006 (%) Gang Problems Ever Reported, (%) Rural Counties Smaller Cities Suburban Counties Larger Cities Source: Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention

Percentage of Agencies with Gang Problems that reported an Increase in Gang-Related Crime, 2006 Source: Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention

SCOPE OF THE PROBLEM Hamilton Fish Institute n 287,000 weapons enter into U.S. schools in any 30 day period; Indicators of School Crime and Safety: 2007 n In 2005, some 19% of students (in grades 9–12) reported they had carried a weapon with them; n 6% of students reported they had carried a weapon on school property.

Four things that ensures Safe, Secure Schools 1. State Law 2. School District Safety Regulations 3. Code of Conduct 4. Collective Bargaining Agreement

State Law

SAFE SCHOOLS AGAINST VIOLENCE IN EDUCATION ACT S.A.V.E. LEGISLATION SAFE SCHOOLS AGAINST VIOLENCE IN EDUCATION ACT S.A.V.E. LEGISLATION Major Provisions: n Safety plans n Emergency response plans n Codes of conduct n Teacher authority/principal authority n Mandated Uniform Violent Incident Reporting n Instruction in civility, citizenship and character education n Health curriculum n Interpersonal Violence Prevention Education n School Violence Prevention Training n Whistleblower protection n Fingerprinting n Assaults of teachers n Child abuse reporting n Prohibiting silent resignations n Teachers discipline n Court notification

Chancellor’s Regulation

Code of Conduct

Discipline Code

Code of Conduct

Collective Bargaining Agreement

Safe Secure Schools n Shared Decision Making n Roles and responsibilities clearly defined n Accountability n Professional Development

What should schools do to ensure that they are safe and secure?

n Develop functioning School Safety Committees; n Conduct Violence Prevention Training Workshops; n Training & Enforcement of the Code of Conduct n Intervention Programs (conflict resolution, individual and group counseling, peer mediation, mentoring, etc.)

School Safety Committee Members At The Minimum: n The Principal n Principal(s)/Designee n UFT Chapter Leader/ Union Representative n Parent Association President/Designee n School Safety Agent(s) – Level 3/Designee n NYPD Precinct C.O./Designee n Custodial Engineer/Designee n Student Representatives All parties listed above must “sign-off” on the plan