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Proactive School Security and Emergency Preparedness Planning
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Proactive School Security and Emergency Preparedness Planning

  • Kenneth S. Trump - National School Safety and Security Services, Cleveland, Ohio


April 2011 | 328 pages | Corwin

"The information in this landmark book will reduce school violence and save lives. I recommend it with the highest possible praise."
—Scott Poland, Associate Professor and Coordinator of Suicide and Violence Prevention
Nova Southeastern University Center for Psychological Studies

An all-in-one resource for keeping students safe

As concern about school safety continues to escalate, the need for heightened school security has never been more urgent. Educators want practical, cost-effective school safety strategies that come from credible sources and can be implemented quickly. Author Kenneth S. Trump has dedicated his career to making schools safer, and he delivers solutions in a concise and straightforward manner. The book begins with an overview of school security and the politics surrounding it, then provides nuts-and-bolts strategies for preventing violence and preparing for crises. The text covers today's hot topics such as:

  • Bullying, cyberbullying, and harassment
  • After-school, transportation, and athletic event security
  • Managing media and parent communications on safety and crises
  • Practical, cost-effective security and preparedness within tight budgets

Although school security can be an emotionally charged subject, this book stresses the importance of collecting data and acting rationally. Included are ideas for working with community leaders, police, parents, businesses, and political officials to improve school and community safety and security. The author's companion website keeps readers current with breaking news, free resources, and interactive dialogue on the latest developments in the school safety field.


 
Disclaimer and Legal Notices
 
Foreword by Dr. Scott Poland
 
Preface
 
About the Author
 
I. Understanding and Managing School Safety
 
1. The Evolving Threats to School Security
The School Security Threat Continuum

 
Internal and External Threats to School Safety

 
Assessing Threats and Prioritizing Risk Reduction

 
Roller Coaster Awareness, Policy, and Funding: The Biggest Ongoing Threat to School Safety

 
 
2. The "Politricks" of School Security
Denial, Image, and Underreporting

 
Awkward Circumstances Encourage Downplaying of School Safety

 
Reality, Not Rhetoric

 
 
3. Comprehensive School Safety Planning and Leadership
School Safety as a Leadership Issue

 
Getting on the Same Page

 
Overcoming Denial

 
Financial Obstacles

 
School Safety as a Public Relations Tool

 
Community Ownership

 
Tools for Balance

 
Risk Reduction Framework

 
 
II. Proactive School Security: Focusing on Fundamentals
 
4. School Security Assessments
Assessment Definition and Use

 
Assessment Expectations, Best Practices, and Levels

 
Who Should Assess

 
Avoiding a Template Approach to School Security Assessments

 
Focus Assessments on More Than Hardware and Manpower

 
Evaluation Methods and Identifying Policy-Practice Disconnects

 
Areas That May Be Evaluated in a School Security Assessment

 
Benefits of Assessing

 
 
5. School Security Strategies and Issues
Administration Building, Board Meeting, and Support Site Security

 
Adult-Originated Violence

 
After-Hours School Security: Activities and Community Use of Schools

 
Arming Teachers and School Staff

 
Athletic and Large Event Security

 
Bomb Threats and Suspicious Devices

 
Cell Phones, Camera Phones, and Text Messaging

 
Computer Security Measures

 
Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design

 
Drug-Sniffing Dogs

 
Election Day Security

 
Elementary School Security and Aggression by Younger Students

 
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act and School Safety

 
Gangs

 
Hotlines and Other Anonymous Reporting

 
Lockers and Bookbags

 
Personal Safety

 
Personnel and Internal Security

 
Physical Security

 
Private, Independent, and Charter Schools

 
Probation Officers in Schools

 
School Resource Officers, School Police Departments, and School Security Departments

 
School Security Equipment: Metal Detectors, Cameras, and Other Technology

 
Sex Offenses

 
Student Involvement in School Safety Planning

 
Student Searches

 
Special Education and School Safety

 
Suicide

 
Tasers and School-Based Police Officers

 
Theft

 
Training Staff on School Security and Emergency Preparedness

 
Transportation Security

 
Trespassing

 
Truancy

 
Uniforms and Dress Codes

 
Vandalism

 
Zero Tolerance and School Discipline

 
 
6. Managing Bullying: Focusing on Supervision, Conduct Codes, School Climate, and Mental Health Strategies
Defining Bullying

 
Bullying: One Threat on a Broad Threat Continuum

 
The Mythical Attribution of Bullying as the Cause of School Shootings

 
Bullycide, the Media, and the Contagion Effect

 
Practical Anti-Bullying Strategies: Supervision, Security, Discipline, and Criminal Law

 
School Climate Strategies

 
Mental Health Support for Students

 
Cyberbullying and Sexting

 
Anti-Bullying Communication Strategies

 
Political Hijacking of Bullying for Broader Social and Political Interests

 
The Case Against Anti-Bullying Laws

 
 
7. Preparing Schools for Terrorism
The Terrorist Threat to Schools: Soft Targets

 
Domestic vs. International Terrorism

 
Overcoming the Denial, Fear, Politics, and Naysayers

 
Heightened Security Procedures for Schools

 
Biological and Chemical Threats

 
General Considerations in Times of Terrorism and War

 
 
8. Managing School Safety on Tight Budgets
Practical School Safety Considerations on Limited Budgets

 
Budgeting for School Safety, Security, and Emergency Preparedness

 
Low-Cost and No-Cost School Safety Strategies

 
 
9. Parents and School Safety
Practical Things Parents Can Do to Assess School Security and Emergency Preparedness

 
How Parents Can Reduce Child Safety Risks at Home

 
Steps Parents Can Take to Address School Safety Concerns

 
 
III. Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools
 
10. Early Warning Signs of Violence
Concerns and Caveats

 
Checklists and Gurus

 
We Are Federal Agents and We Are Here to Help You

 
Early Warning, Timely Response

 
Frontline Observations

 
Prevention, Intervention, and Treatment Issues

 
Another Call for Common Sense

 
 
11. Assessing and Managing Threats
Threat Assessment Protocol

 
Limitations

 
 
12. Lessons Learned From School Crisis Incidents
Be Prepared, Not Scared

 
Priority One: Emergency Preparedness

 
Prevention: An Equal Priority

 
Deal With Small Problems

 
School Climate

 
Overcoming Student Denial

 
A Switch From Snitch

 
Listen to Kids and Parents

 
Rely on Local Data

 
Why Suburban White Kids Kill

 
Train Emergency Service Personnel

 
Thinking Security When There Is Not a Crisis

 
Buyer Beware: Overnight Experts, Gurus, and Gadgets

 
 
13. Emergency Preparedness Planning and Preparation
Four Phases of Emergency Management

 
Normalization Nonsense

 
The Process

 
Emergency Guideline Documents

 
The Preparation

 
Pulling It All Together

 
 
14. Emergency Response and Crisis Management
Emergency Response: The First Half Hour

 
Roles and Responsibilities

 
Specific Considerations for Before, During, and After the Emergency Service Personnel Response

 
 
15. The Postcrisis Crisis: Managing Media and Parent Communications
Managing Cell Phones, Text Messaging, and Social Media

 
Developing Your Message: Parent Expectations After a Safety Incident

 
An Inside Look at The Business Side of Today's Media

 
Traditional School District Parent and Media Management: It Doesn't Work Today

 
Getting Out Front on School Safety Communications

 
Media Crisis Communications Guidelines

 
Crisis Credibility and Reputation Management

 
Lessons for the Media on Covering Ongoing Crises

 
 
16. Preparing for the Postcrisis Crisis: Managing Mental Health, Security, Financial, Operational Continuity, Liability, and School-Community Political Issues
Mental Health Support for Grief and Healing

 
Security and Emergency Preparedness Postcrisis Demands

 
Financial and Continuity Of Operations Plans for Crisis Response and Recovery

 
Litigation Preparedness

 
School-Community Postcrisis Politics

 
 
IV. Future Directions
 
17. State, Federal, and Academic Support for School Safety
State-Level Strategies

 
The Federal Role

 
Colleges of Education

 
Where to Now?

 
 
References
Recommended Readings

 
 
Index

“Ken Trump's book outlines what he has demonstrated throughout his career: How schools can collaborate with law enforcement, emergency management, and mental health professionals for better crisis planning. I believe many of the incidents of school crises could have been, and should have been, prevented. The information in this landmark book will reduce school violence and save lives. I recommend it with the highest possible praise.”

Scott Poland, Associate Professor and Coordinator of Suicide and Violence Prevention
Nova Southeastern University Center for Psychological Studies

"This book is invaluable to education and safety leaders working daily on the front-lines to provide the safest, most secure learning environment possible in their schools. It is the next best thing to having Kenneth Trump working in your school district."

John Weicker, Director of Security
Fort Wayne Community Schools, IN

"Definitely a must-have desk reference for school principals. Ken offers need-to-know, practical school safety and emergency preparedness strategies not taught in “Principalship 101”!

 
Asia Jones, Executive Director for Student Support Services
Roanoke City Public Schools, VA

"Ken is the #1 authority on school safety issues surrounding the educational community."

Matthew McDevitt, Board Member
Pennsuaken Board of Education, NJ

"Ken Trump is the preeminent national authority on school safety and emergency preparedness planning, but he also thinks like a school administrator. In this book, Ken offers a comprehensive list of practical solutions to a myriad of issues that impact school personnel’s attempts to improve school safety and emergency preparedness. This book does not belong on a bookshelf. It belongs on the desk of every school administrator and teacher for immediate and frequent access."

John Hutton, Superintendent
Gurnee School District 56, IL

"This book is a comprehensive guide for anyone interested in ensuring that our schools are safe learning environments and that they are prepared to deal with any unexpected crises. The author is a highly experienced and respected expert in school safety and security, with decades of practical experience in schools throughout the country."

C. Ronald Huff, Professor of Criminology, Law and Society
University of California, Irvine

"There is no concern more chilling to school board members and superintendents than any issue related to school safety. This book uniquely captures current best practices in school safety and security that Ken Trump helped our school district and community implement over an 18-month period. The comprehensive consideration of school safety from the perspective of the leading national expert make this book an indispensable reference for school leaders at all levels."

Tom Evert, retired superintendent and Amy Van Deuren , former school board member
School District of Janesville, WI

"Proactive School Security and Emergency Preparedness Planning is a priceless resource, especially for administrators expected to create and maintain safe learning environments. No other single volume provides a more comprehensive, relevant, and accurate guide for planning and practice."

Theodore J. Kowalski, Professor & the Kuntz Family Chair in Educational Administration
University of Dayton, OH

"Ken Trump has established himself as a leading advocate for school safety and security. This book raises the bar to a new level. This comprehensive, thoughtful and practical work will be used for years to come by those of us who are responsible for crisis planning and management within our school districts."

Linda Speer Graham, Crisis Coordinator
Nettleton School District, Jonesboro, AR

"We had the advantage of working directly with Ken and had immediate access to his wealth of knowledge on school safety. Having a book by him as a resource would be the next best thing."

Karen Schulte, Superintendent
School District of Janesville, WI
Key features

Readers will find straight-to-the-point information on school security and emergency preparedness. The book first looks at threats to school security and the politics surrounding it, and then moves right into the nuts-and-bolts strategies for preventing violence and preparing for crises.

Updates on topics in this book will be added to the author's web site at www.schoolsecurity.org. For timely and breaking updates on current trends, hot topics, free resources, news, opinion, and interactive dialogue on the latest developments in the school safety field, visit Trump's blog at www.schoosecurityblog.com and sign-up for daily email alerts.

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