A crisis-intervention plan charts the components of the school district's response to a crisis that includes prevention, intervention, and follow-up. The plan should explain how a school will communicate with other agencies, staff, parents, students, and the news media; describe what long-range training the school will provide for school…

The only way to prepare for a violence-induced crisis in a school system is to develop a crisis-preparedness policy. Offers guidelines to a school board in developing such a plan. (MLF)

To handle a death in the school community wisely and sensitively, school boards need to develop a death response policy. A policy developed by a diverse committee will be sensitive to the needs of the entire school community. Offers seven points to consider in drafting a policy. (MLF)

Analyzes school boards' response, in terms of crisis decision making, to a situation in which a superintendent was charged and later convicted of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old female student. Cites "Crucial Decisions," by Irving Janis, and offers recommendations to help board members be more effective decision makers. Presents an outline of…

School boards need to be prepared to deal with potential disasters. Four districts whose school board presidents dealt with serious emergencies are described. The emergencies included the murder of a superintendent, a flood, a statewide teacher walkout, and the threat of financial collapse. (MD)

A pilot program, Chemical Addictions Prevention in Schools (CAPS), is meeting with success at a Pennsylvania high school. A counselor who is not a member of the school's regular teaching or counseling staff operates an inschool counseling center utilizing peer counseling, support groups, and crisis prevention and intervention. (Author/MLF)

A disturbed student armed with a rifle terrified a rural high school. Although the student was disarmed without harming anyone, a crisis game plan was needed. Offers suggestions for administrators to prepare for a potentially lethal crisis. (MLF)

Offers 10 tips for developing well-designed crises-management plans and specified procedures for dealing with crises and tragedies. (LMI)

To deal with rising teen suicide and attempted suicide, this Michigan school system developed a comprehensive crisis response plan encouraging greater communication with students, parents, and school staff members and involving immediate response by trained professionals and followup procedures to stabilize the school community. (WTH)

Experiences in coping with an acquired immune deficiency (AIDS)-struck child demonstrated that the public can be trusted to be responsible if people are informed promptly and fully, and they see school officials acting quickly, decisively, and confidently. (MLF)