Recommendations of the Madison School Safety Task Force

The following 32 recommendations for improving school safety were presented by the Madison School Safety Task Force to Madison school and city officials Wednesday night. The findings and recommendations below come from the final report presentation (pdf). More details on each of the findings and recommendations can be read in the task force final report (pdf).

The task force was created in response to the Feb. 5 shooting death of Todd Brown at Discovery Middle School. A total of 33 people served on the task force, which solicited input from students, teachers, school administrators, police and the public in putting together its findings.

Madison School Safety Task Force Findings and Recommendations

Finding 1: Risks have increased over the past 10 years placing greater demands on Central Office, Administrators, and Faculty.
Recommendation 1: Consider establishing a Supervisor of School Safety position to plan and execute the school safety program.

Finding 2: Protocols designed to systematically identify, assess, record, and manage issues that pose a threat to health and safety of our schools varied.
Recommendation 2: Consider improving threat management protocols and rely on the SRO and other advisors that are trained to determine the credibility of a threat and to assist in early intervention mitigation, and resolution of problems.

Finding 3: Students universally follow a code of silence that inhibits effective communication of potentialthreats.
Recommendation 3: Consider implementing a student friendly, confidential reporting capability (e.g., texting and online messaging) that promotes “SAFE TO SHARE” reporting of threats and invites student questions or concerns without fear of retaliation.

Finding 4: The School Resource Officer (SRO) policy and procedures have not been codified. SRO staffing levels should be reassessed. Active Shooter training has occurred but a policy has not been codified and training has not been completed to include faculty.
Recommendation 4: Madison Police should consider publishing a SRO policy that clarifies roles/responsibilities and coordinate the policy with school officials.
Recommendation 5: SRO staffing levels should be assessed for gaps. A hybrid protection program (SRO and Security) should be assessed as an option.

Finding 5: Seven elementary schools are supported by one SRO, stretching resources thin and limiting the positive influence SROs have on students.
Recommendation 6: During the SRO gap analysis, consider the benefit of increasing the SRO staffing level at elementary schools to increase influence on students during the formative years.

Finding 6: Safety and emergency preparedness training is limited and may not test all-hazard situations. Time to teach and train all stakeholders is limited.
Recommendation 7: Consider developing an annual training plan that addresses all-hazards and teaches Administrators, faculty, staff, SROs, and others their roles and responsibilities.

Finding 7: Safety Plans that meet minimum state requirements are in place but vary in content, terminology, maturity, and ease of use. Patriot Academy/Alternative School is not under a current Safety Plan.
Recommendation 8: Consider standardizing the Safety Plan format and content at the district level and require schools to provide a school Annex. Automate the plan development process if possible. Address the need for a Patriot Academy/Alternative School Safety Plan.

Finding 8: The risk of bullying is high. Bystanders are reluctant to report it. The required response to cyber-bullying is not well understood. The district Policy Committee is currently reviewing a draft anti-harassment policy.
Recommendation 9: Consider making anti-harassment a high priority by publishing the district policy, implementing a research-based anti-bullying program, and training faculty, staff, and students. Inspire bystanders to share what they see or hear. Provide awareness materials to parents.

Finding 9: Emergency and medical response teams have excellent training, capabilities, equipment, and response times. Situation awareness is lacking during a crisis and response times can be impacted at times if inaccurate location information is provided.
Recommendation 10: Consider a plan to implement the AL Virtual Safe School initiative that will result in greater situation awareness.
Recommendation 11: Consider the need for a standardized alpha/numeric numbering system for identifying exact locations during an emergency.
Recommendation  12: Consider coordinating the conduct of a mass exercise that tests the Incident Command and Response effectiveness.

Finding 10: The security controls and technologies (communications, cameras, card readers, etc.) vary in coverage, functionality, and effectiveness.
Recommendation 13: Consider and address the technology shortfalls. Assess and improve the maintenance program. Consider a plan to implement the AL Virtual Safe School initiative.
Recommendation 14: Consider including system specifications and design features in the new high school design package. Consider a licensed security consultant if local school expertise is not available.

Finding 11: Visitor management tools and controls exist in all schools but vary in effectiveness. Occasional gaps may exist due to inattention or failure to follow established policy, e.g., doors propped open.
Recommendation 15: Reemphasize the need to remain alert and follow established access and visitor controls. Consider enhanced online identification and visitor screening systems for use district wide.
Recommendation 16: Consider cost-benefits analysis of selected remodel projects to improve visibility at front entrances.

Finding 12: Critical communications are affected by dead spots rendering communications in some schools unreliable.
Recommendation 17: Consider initiating an emergency communications effectiveness study to determine options for enhancing communications.

Finding 13: Administrators and faculty at the Patriot Academy/Alternative School are committed. Many risks are mitigated, however, other risk exists and should be assessed.
Recommendation 18: Consider an audit to identify/mitigate all risks. Consider requiring community service as a condition to A-School.
Recommendation 19: Ensure detailed information on student risk behavior is provided to A-School prior to arrival of a new student.
Recommendation 20: Consider installing a camera at the front entrance for identifying visitors before granting entry. Consider use of portable wands to screen students for weapons.

Finding 14: An understanding of the roles and responsibilities regarding interaction with the media during a crisis varied.
Recommendation 21 Consider reviewing policy/procedure on working with the media to ensure timely, appropriate, and reliable communication to the community. Update Safety Plans to reflect the approved policy.

Finding 15: Incident Command (IC) authority is addressed in Safety Plans. However, a clear understanding of the transfer of IC authority to first-responders varied.
Recommendation 22: Include IC authority and roles and responsibilities as a topic for discussion during table top exercises. Further, the district should conduct a critical Lessons Learned review of the incident at Discovery MS and implement improvements as necessary.

Finding 16: Confidential student information regarding Students of Interest is not always shared from one school to the next school as students move forward.
Recommendation 23: Consider establishing a consistent process to share confidential information on a need to know basis so that receiving schools can conduct a risk assessment and intervention plan, as needed.

Finding 17: Faculty and staff are not trained (or expected) to take defensive actions to defend themselves or students if confronted by an armed aggressor.
Recommendation 24: Consider the benefits of coordinating a self-defense and survival training for faculty and staff who desire such training.

Finding 18: Parental involvement at elementary schools is strong but begins to wane significantly at Middle School.
Recommendation 25: Consider increasing efforts to engage parents to keep them informed and solicit their support in teaching their children about internet safety, expected student behaviors, etc.
Recommendation 26: Consider sponsoring the innovative WATCH D.O.G.S. program which focuses on school violence in schools by using fathers as a positive role model for students.

Finding 19: The Pride Survey and other indicators reflect that weapons may at times be brought on school property. The ability of the school to detect weapons at entrances is limited. Solutions such as permanent metal detectors are very costly , impacts the school learning environment, and offers limited chance of success.
Recommendation 27: Consider increasing training efforts on how to report and respond to reported weapons incidents. Consider the use of portable wands to detect weapons on a case by case basis.

Finding 20: There is some inherent risk of threatening behavior at sites located outside the schools that may have fewer controls, i.e., bus loading, modular units, parking lots, sports venues, etc.
Recommendation 28: Remind supervisors to remain alert at areas such as bus loading, parking lots, and modular units. Consider training scenarios that address these areas during table top exercises.

Finding 21: There may be some evolving risk from gang associated behavior by a small delinquent group of students at the middle and high school levels. Teachers and staff are a front line defense and should play a key role in mitigating this risk before it has an opportunity to escalate.
Recommendation 29: Continue to partner with SROs and Madison Police to monitor potential gang associated activity and respond immediately when the Student Code of Conduct is violated. Provide age appropriate gang awareness training to students and train teachers and staff how to recognize and report signs of gang activity.

Finding 22: Our schools are not shielded from the nationwide student use of drugs and alcohol. Schools continually educate students on the dangers, yet the problem is still prevalent in the schools.
Recommendation 30: Continue to educate students on drug use. Consider taking a more proactive enforcement approach to reducing drug use at schools by working closely with the SROs and Madison Police.

Finding 23: Surveillance systems are a useful tool for monitoring suspicious behavior and investigating serious incidents. Cameras are monitored independently by all schools on a limited basis.
Recommendation 31: Consider the benefits of establishing a central monitoring capability for remote live monitoring by trained Communications (dispatch) Officers.

Finding 24: There is an inherent risk to students who ride buses due to the lack of supervision. Surveillance cameras may help deter incidents. An estimated 50% of buses are equipped with surveillance cameras.
Recommendation 32: Consider auditing the bus transportation system for compliance with school bus safety protocols. Consider continuing to upgrade bus surveillance systems until 100% have been outfitted.