Welcome to October!

October 18-24 is Safe School Week

America's Safe Schools Week

October 18-24, 2020 2021 October 17-23, 2021

2022 October 16-22, 2022

The National School Safety Center, state governors and state school superintendents sponsor America's Safe Schools Week, October 18-24, 2020. This observance is also actively supported by local, state and national public officials and professional organizations.

http://www.schoolsafety.us/safe-schools-week

In the 2019-2020 school year, Christoval Sophomore, Tatum Reeves initiated a DECA project with fellow classmates that incorporated the mission from “I love you guys.” Tatum, with help from school administration and her DECA teacher, and mom, organized the building of Standard Response Protocol Go Kits for every classroom in the district. Not only were all kits prepared and distributed, but training took place to prepare all staff and students in emergency response. “I love you guys” promotes a Standard Response Protocol that provided clear and effective communication in case of an emergency. The protocols are updated periodically. Currently the Responses include:

Lockout: Get inside, Lock outside doors.

Lockdown/Secure: Locks, lights, out of sight.

Evacuate: To the announced location

Shelter: Hazard and safety strategy

Hold: In your classroom. Clear the halls.

These commands require much more understanding than just verbally calling out some words. A training is provided by John Michael Keyes and the “I love you guys” Foundation to clearly articulate the meaning and process behind each of these commands. One must take an account students and staff with disabilities, certain weather situation and communication protocols. Each command has a visual representation that can be used to help with communication as well. Tatum became a trainer of the SRP, organized training, collaborated with the community churches and provided training to students, staff and community members, Oh, by the way, Tatum’s group won first place at the state convention and was heading to Nationals when the pandemic hit.

Small schools can win federal grants! May ISD and Larry Owings applied for the2020 COPS SVPP Grant and was awarded over $60,000 to help with initiative started in the district. ESC 15 wants to congratulate May ISD and Larry Owings for being awarded a federal grant to help with school security.

Region 15 applied for a federal grant in May of 2020 to help provide an anonymous reporting tool that provides communication and social and emotional tools to help school districts meet student needs and comply with Davids' Law and SB11/HB18 requirements. ESC 15 plans to role out a letter of intent to districts in ESC 15 in the near future. KEEP POSTED!!!

STANDARD RESPONSE PROTOCOL

HOLD In your room or area. Clear the halls.

SECURE (Lockout) Get inside. Lock outside doors.

LOCKDOWN Locks, lights, out of sight.

EVACUATE To the announced location

SHELTER Using the announced hazard and strategy.

Copyright 2020. All rights reserved. The “I Love U Guys” Foundation

Please be aware that many districts will REAP or Transfer these funds but still may contact ESC 15 for any Title IV related questions.

ESC 15 Title IV Represenatives

Michael Bohensky, michael.bohensky@esc15.net

Traci Terrill; traci.terrill@esc15.net

Title IV Checklist for Districts Who Do Not Reap/Transfer

1. Needs Assessment

*LEAS receiving <$30,000 has a process to determine the program and or LEA needs

*LEAs receiving >$30,000 must conduct a comprehensive needs assessment tied to the three goals of Title IV-A

Goal 1=Well-rounded education opportunities

Goal 2=Safe and healthy students

Goal 3=Effective use of technology

2. Date and agenda of meeting to develop Title IV program

3. Date of ongoing evaluation

Region 15

Title IV ESC 15 Resources

Region 14

Title IV State Initiative Resources

Many resources are found at this site for school Safety.

*Online training opportunities with links to help provide "home base" learning opportunities to staff:

1. Trauma Informed Care

2. National Incident Management

3. AED Training

4. Behavioral Threat Assessment

5. Emergency Operation Plan Training

Student Trauma Resources: https://vetoviolence.cdc.gov/apps/aces-training/#/#top

Epilepsy resources: https://efaorg.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6LFmlEwkvBugIUB

The Texas Education Agency is providing free of charge to students and teachers, Trauma and Grief under Project Restore.

https://www.texasprojectrestore.org/

6 series on different aspects. Only the first one is ready now.

This is a useful PD resource also. raining Professional Development that is compliant with SB 11-HB 18 Requirements.

TEXAS SCHOOL SAFETY CENTER REQUESTS CONTINUITY OF OPERATION PLAN AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE ANNEX:

All school districts should have recevied an email on June 4th that read:

June 4, 2020

SCHOOL DISTRICT
Attn: Superintendent

Dear--------,

As COVID-19 continues to impact Texas, school districts are on the front line of creating strategies and services to support their students and communities. School districts have done an amazing job of adapting and overcoming an unprecedented set of circumstances. In so many ways districts have been the shining stars in Texas of how to provide support and stability in what may feel like an unstable time.

As all of us begin to look ahead and evaluate how to resume activities and continue operations, the Texas School Safety Center (TxSSC) has also assessed how to begin phasing in requirements set out in legislation, such as the Multi-Hazard Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) review. The goal is to ensure the legislative mandates are met, but more importantly, to also support schools as they look toward reopening and determining the critical aspects that directly impact that reopening process.

The first phase of review will be a 10,000-foot overview to assess foundational parts of the EOP and a more in-depth review of the Continuity Of Operations Plan (COOP) and Communicable Disease Annex. This will be used to assess the overall status of EOPs across the state and to prepare districts for reopening after COVID-19. Districts can expect to receive feedback from the TxSSC if:

1. A Hazard Analysis has not been completed.
2. The EOP and Annexes do not cover the hazards that have been identified.
3. Certain items specifically mentioned in TEC 37.108, are not addressed.
4. The EOP does not address, or insufficiently addresses, a COOP.
5. The EOP does not address, or insufficiently addresses, Communicable Disease.

At this time TxSSC will not request follow up for items 1-3. Items 4 and 5 will be the focus of this review, and TxSSC will work with districts to ensure the COOP and Communicable Disease Annex are viable and up to date.

This is not meant to forgo the other items and those should be addressed as time permits. These items and others will be reviewed in depth during the next review process.

In accordance with Section 37.2071 of the Texas Education Code, the TxSSC is formally requesting an electronic version of your district’s Multi-Hazard EOP, including all annexes and other documents, such as appendices, that are associated with the EOP.

Please submit an electronic version (.pdf format) within 14 days of the date of this email by following the instructions at this link:

https://forms.txssc.txstate.edu/readiness-eop/isd-submit

Once received, the EOP will be assigned to a TxSSC School Safety Readiness Specialist, who will contact you with any comments or questions and to verify completion of the review.

Until the EOP is assigned to a specialist, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact me by email at TxSSC_EOP@txstate.edu. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

Sincerely,

Jeff Caldwell
Associate Director School Safety Readiness
Texas School Safety Center
Texas State University
Office: 512-245-0895
Email: jc32053@txstate.edu

INFORMATION IN REGARD TO THE EOP REVIEW

PUBLIC ISD FAQ:
Q1: We have an EOP (or “crisis response plan”) but we’re not ready to submit because it does not meet the Texas Education Code Standards. Can we have more time?
A1: This review process is a 10,000-foot overview to assess the status of EOPs across the state. Our approach is to first provide you with the guidance to successfully plan for your unique hazards and do the right thing. We must establish a starting point with which to help you and your submission to our website starts that process. This information will also be used to establish benchmarks and inform the path forward for EOP training and resources. Do not be afraid to send what you have in the current state it is in.

Q2: What are functional and hazard-specific annexes?

A2: You can read more about annexes to the basic operation plans here on our website. In basic terms, functional annexes provide specific operations information about district emergency functions (Communications, Evacuation, Recovery, etc…). Hazard-specific annexes give specific information about the details of district operations in response to specific hazards (Severe Weather, Active Threat, etc…).

Q3: How long will it take you to review our documents? When will we get feedback?

A3: The review times will depend on the volume of plans received and the amount of time it takes to finalize the two in-depth portions of the review, the Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) and Communicable Disease Annex.

If the submitted plan contains all necessary elements an email will be sent to the district notifying them that no further action is needed at this time. If the submitted plan is missing elements an email will be sent with comments regarding necessary updates and resubmittal.

--------

If you do not receive a response within three working days, please feel free to contact us directly:

Josh Carmouche, Team Supervisor
jhc80@txstate.edu
Stacy Wright, Team Supervisor
sbw66@txstate.edu

Districts that needed an extension until July 1st were asked to send an email to the following email: TxSSC_EOP@txstate.edu

Texas School Safety Information

The Texas School Safety Center has been receiving several calls regarding COVID-19 and mandated requirements regarding EOP’s and audits.

Today, we have published an FAQ website regarding the questions we have been receiving. I invite you to review the questions and responses in case you receive similar questions.

https://txssc.txstate.edu/featured/covid-faq

This website will be updated as needed.

Thank you for all that you do in ensuring schools remain in compliance and ensuring the safety of students!

Krista Flores

It is important that your district has someone (all team member need training) trained in behavioral threat assessment. There is only one virtual training available. If you need training, I encourage you sign up today!

Training Web Link: https://txssc.txstate.edu/events/sbta-trainings/

Virtual Training Registration Form

School Behavioral Threat Assessment Trainings

In order to register for this virtual training you must complete the following steps:

1. Complete the online Behavioral Threat Assessment course through the School Safety Learning Portal: This course will introduce key concepts of threat assessment and is a required prerequisite for this virtual School Behavioral Threat Assessment Training.

2. Upon completion of the online Behavioral Threat Assessment course you will be provided a completion code, use that code to access the virtual School Behavioral Threat Assessment Training Registration Form.

This training is open to public ISDs, open enrollment charter schools, school-based law enforcement, and any state agency that serves on an identified Threat Assessment team. Please note that registration for these virtual trainings will only be open until filled, so register early.

Each registrant must be identified as a district/charter school Threat Assessment team member. Also, the completion of both the online course and the virtual training will meet the new state requirements for threat assessment training.

PLEASE NOTE:

The access code provided upon completion of the "Behavioral Threat Assessment" online course is a one-time use code and valid only for these Virtual School Behavioral Threat Assessment Trainings.

The current three-year school district safety and security audit cycle began on September 1, 2017 and will end on August 31, 2020. School district safety and security audits required by Texas Education Code (TEC) 37.108 must be completed during that cycle.

A school district may begin the reporting of specified audit results to the Texas School Safety Center (TxSSC) following the superintendent’s or their designee’s receipt of the link to the district’s online District Audit Reporting Tool (DARtool). This tool will be emailed to superintendents and designees in April of 2020 and must be submitted to the TxSSC by September 15, 2020. (Note: the 2020 reporting deadline has been extended to November 15, 2020 due to COVID-19.)

CHARTER SCHOOL INFORMATION

The newly established open-enrollment charter school safety and security audit cycle began on September 1, 2019 and will end on August 31, 2022. Charter school audits must be completed during that cycle. Community Colleges (Junior College Districts) have their own audit toolkit and reporting cycle. Visit the TxSSC website for more information on community college audits.