Outlines 21 actions, both immediate and over the long term, that administrators can take to protect students and schools from terrorist activities. Includes establishing a chain of command, a command post, a crisis response team, a communications staff, and inservice training. (four references) (MLF)

A Montana school district has developed crisis-management procedures, compiled them in a color-coded manual, and trained staff members how to manage possible emergency situations. Includes how to respond to bomb threats. (MLF)

In May 1998, a student opened fire in the cafeteria, killing or wounding 24 students at Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon. Lessons learned from the incident are detailed to assist other schools in planning for unexpected tragedies. Steps recommended actions before, during, and after a crisis. (CDS)

Describes a model for emergency counseling services to be developed in coordination with an overall disaster plan on a university or college campus. Procedures for simulation and training, results of field testing, and a three-phase implementation and follow-up model are presented. (EMK)

An environment of safety in the school seldom comes down to any one particular component or plan; it is a combination of strategies and ideas that makes a school safe and secure for everyone. In this article, the authors provide practical information to educators who are already working to capacity in terms of time allocation and monetary…

Psychologists who are experienced in crisis response present a framework for a proactive response to tragedy. An introductory chapter presents an overview. Chapter 2 offers a brief review of crisis theory. Chapter 3 contains a review of strategies for starting crisis-response plans. Chapter 4 reviews recommendations for securing a commitment to…

School preparedness includes the possibility of a natural disaster, but recent events also confirm a need for preparedness and prevention efforts for intentional mass casualty incidents (MCIs). This survey examined the preparedness for the prevention and response for MCIs at public schools in Arkansas. This survey demonstrated that most school…

This workshop and planning guide is designed to help stakeholders create safe schools for students. The guide is intended to be used with three 20-minute videotape programs that feature an inside look at two schools that actively involved their communities in improving school safety. The three videos--"Building the Team,""The Safe School…

The police-school liaison program at Rich East High School, Illinois, helps the school prevent crime and delinquency, educates students and staff members, and provides expert advice to the school. Offers eight tips to set up a police liaison program. (MLF)

Recent accidents highlight that chemical, biological, and radiological (CBR) agent exposure risk isn't just about terrorism. In this article, the author, a parent and public health physician, wrestles with the fact that total protection from CBRs is probably not feasible in her son's or in the majority of American schools. Capital investments, for…

Despite all its efforts to crack down on the bomb scares that disrupted classes again and again in 2003, North Carolina's Orange County district fell victim to yet another false alarm this school year, 2004. For some schools, bomb threats have become more routine than fire drills, with each incident ringing up multi-thousand-dollar tabs for…

School safety is a human concern, one that every school and community must take seriously and strive continually to achieve. It is also a legal concern; schools can be held liable if they do not make good-faith efforts to provide a safe and secure school environment. How schools are built and maintained is an integral part of school safety and…

Weighing in at 567 pages, including 107 pages of footnotes, the 9/11 Commission Report is a metaphor for the primitive and often dysfunctional state of risk management in large organizations such as colleges and universities. President Clinton's national security adviser, Sandy Berger, told the commission that government decisions "were made from…

Safe schools require the collaboration and support of students, staff, parents, and the community. Lists 10 important steps school leaders can take. Contains a safe school quiz developed by the National School Safety Center to help gauge the situation at individual schools. (MLF)

Describes the various components of an effective campus security program, including the master plan/needs assessment, law enforcement staffing, security technology, access control, closed circuit television systems, and emergency planning. (EV)