1. SAFE & DRUG FREE SCHOOLS REPORT Presented by: Brandy Gardner Safe & Drug Free Schools Coordinator Dr. Peggy J. Rogers, Assistant Superintendent Lynn Wright, Superintendent

2. Safe & Drug Free Schools Program
The purpose of the Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities Act is to support programs that prevent violence in and around schools; that prevent the illegal use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs; that involve parents and communities; and that are coordinated with related federal, state, school, and community efforts and resources to foster a safe and drug-free learning environment that supports student academic achievement.

3. How information is gathered
Each year our district conducts a comprehensive needs assessment in order to tailor a set of programs to fit the needs of our schools.
The overall purpose of the comprehensive needs assessment is to identify gaps between the current status of the district and its vision of where it wants to be.
One area that is assessed is SCHOOL SAFETY.

4. What questions were asked
Certified faculty, students and parents were asked several questions on the needs assessment surveys dealing with school safety.
The following questions were asked:
Certified Staff: Check 3 favorable aspects of your school. School safety was one aspect.
Students: I feel safe at this school
Parents: My child is safe at school

5. Certified Staff Results
390 Certified Staff took the survey
107 (27.4%) selected safety as a favorable aspect of their school.
38 (9.7%) selected safety as an unfavorable aspect of their school.

6. Grades 2-5 Results 1457 students in grades 2-5 took the survey
1,228 (84.3%) feel safe at school
76 (5.2%) did not feel safe at school
153 (10.5%) were not sure if they felt safe at school

7. Grades 6-12 Results 2473 students in grades 6-12 took the survey
955 (38.6%) felt safe at school
983 (39.7%) felt somewhat safe at school
134 (5.4%) felt somewhat unsafe at school
401 (16.2%) felt unsafe at school

8. Parent Results 1164 parents took the survey
763 (65.5%) said their child was safe at school
329 (28.3%) said their child was somewhat safe at school
16 (1.4%) said their child was somewhat unsafe at school
56 (4.8%) said their child was unsafe at school

9. MSIS STUDENT DISCIPLINE REPORT The following number of students were suspended/expelled for the following:
2011 – 2012
5000 Students
2012 – 2013
5071 Students
35 = FIGHTING (.70%)
4 = ASSAULT (.08%)
11 = WEAPON POSSESSION (.22%)
13 = ALCOHOL/DRUG POSSESSION (.26%)
7 = VANDALISM (.14%)
1 = DISORDERLY CONDUCT (.02%)
0 = BOMB THREATS (0%)
2 = GANG RELATED INCIDENT (.04%)
32 = FIGHTING (.63%)
5 = ASSAULT (.09%)
8 = WEAPON POSSESSION (.16%)
17 = ALCOHOL/DRUG POSSESSION (.34%)
0 = VANDALISM (0%)
3 = DISORDERLY CONDUCT (.06%)
1 = BOMB THREATS (.02%)
2 = GANG RELATED INCIDENT (.04%)

10. What Can We Do
In an effort to decrease violence in our schools, we need to have the following:
Activities designed to foster school norms against violence, aggression and bullying.
Skills training based on a strong theoretical foundation.
A comprehensive approach that includes family, students, teachers, and community

11. Parental Involvement
The Lowndes County School District believes that without the help of parents, we will continue to fall short in our goals to have safe schools where we can educate our children. In an effort to increase parental awareness, each school in the district has a parent coordinator that uses the PRACTICAL PARENT EDUCATION CURRICULUM to conduct workshops throughout the year on issues such as: bullying, gangs, drug abuse and violence.

12. What is Practical Parent Education
Practical Parent Education (PPE) was founded on the principles of family systems and the ages and stages of children and addresses issues such as developing children’s confidence, self-esteem, motivation, trust, responsibility and social skills. The program also addresses emerging needs such as bullying, truancy, gangs, and social media.
The PPE program is evidence-informed using the best available research and information about best practices to be responsive to families’ cultural backgrounds, community values and individual preferences. PPE works with schools to creatively determine and implement ideas about “How to Connect with Families.” Everything is aimed at giving parents the skills and the motivation to be actively engaged in their child’s academic success.
A group of experienced Education Consultants provides the professional development and workshop training that prepares our parent coordinators to implement the PPE program easily. Both the curriculum and the professional development fulfill Title I, Part A Guidelines.

13. What’s to come for the following year
Schools will revise their crisis management plans in an effort to combat school safety issues.
School security will enforce the rules of the schools at all times.
Safe & Drug Free committee members will work with the parent coordinators to conduct parent workshops on school safety.

14. UNSAFE SCHOOL CHOICE OPTION POLICY
This policy states that each state receiving funds under this Act shall establish and implement a statewide policy requiring that a student attending a “persistently dangerous public school, as determined by the State, or who becomes a victim of a violent criminal offense, be allowed to attend a safe school within the local education agency.
ALL SCHOOLS IN THE LOWNDES COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT ARE SAFE SCHOOLS!