In Search of Safer Schools

Research indicates that virtually every school willexperience a crisis event of some sort in the nearfuture. The real question is whether a school will beadequately prepared for this certainty. Schools havelong operated on the naive assumption of safetydespite the inevitability of crisis events. As aresult schools are not adequately prepared for themedical emotional legal and financial implicationsof a failed crisis response. This book examines thefactors and priorities that impact the level ofpreparedness in a school district and makes practicalrecommendations for improved crisis planning.Beginning with a history of school violence the workexplores the results of the author's study ofthe safety and crisis planning practices of schooldistricts. The highly effective method ofcomprehensive crisis planning is discussed in depthproviding administrators board membersteachers and researchers with a workingknowledge and practical understanding of this vitaltopic. While financial issues and student achievementhave often consumed practitioners' time andattention it is the safety of students that shouldbe any school's top priority.