Winter’s first snow delay…..
The calendar shows that we are still a month away from the
winter solstice, yet our district had to call a two hour delay on Tuesday,
November 12. Was this a harbinger
of things to come or was it something of an anomaly? Even as I write this, the early storms in years past filter
through my memory as if to say, “See you soon….”
November is not the shortest month of the year but, replete
with many educational activities and extracurricular events, November races to
its end. With Veterans Day
celebrations, the HS performance of Beauty and the Beast, American Education
Week, and parent-teacher conferences and the Thanksgiving holiday, November
becomes a blur.
To put an exclamation point on the frenzy of the fall
season, we also experienced a bomb threat at the HS in October. While some opined that we acted
appropriately, others felt we should have done more. Bomb threats, or any type of threat, are always taken
seriously by administration members. This being said, I must stress that such
events are not resolved by a “one solution fits all” protocol. Each threat is comprised of varying
elements that must be assessed to determine the best and safest course of
action. While some may question the fact that high school students were not
evacuated from the HS when the threat was discovered. Here is an excerpt
from experts about what schools should/should not do in the event of a bomb
threat:
According to the PSBA policy on Crisis
Intervention, it is strongly recommended that schools do not evacuate
the building upon discovery of a bomb threat or fire alarm due to the
possibility of an active shooter.
Evacuating immediately is an alternative
that on face value appears to be the preferred approach; however, under certain
circumstances evacuating personnel may increase rather than decrease the risk
of injury. Bombs are three times more likely to be planted outside buildings
than inside. A bomber wishing to cause personal injuries could place a bomb in
the shrubbery near an exit. Public areas inside the school are the second most
frequent place devices are located. Any evacuation that requires students and
staff to move through public areas such as halls, public restrooms, lobbies,
parking lots, playgrounds, might increase the risk of injury during any
detonation.
One major issue facing most school districts is whether
to evacuate schools on bomb threats. Many school bomb threats have been
made by students seeking to disrupt the school day and to get out of
school. Still, all threats must be treated seriously and thoroughly
investigated and managed.
The best practice, supported by federal law enforcement
explosives experts, is for schools and police to assess threats rather than
automatically evacuate schools. Many schools across the nation do not
automatically evacuate their schools upon receiving a bomb
threat. Decisions and protocols on these issues should be determined by
school officials and their public safety (police, fire, etc.) partners as a
part of their emergency planning process and prior to an actual incident.
As I continue to emphasize to parents, staff, Board members
and, most importantly to students, the safety and welfare of all on campus are
paramount; decisions are always based on safety.
At this time of year and always, we at CCSD have many things
for which to be thankful. We saw our
athletes and teams excel this year.
I continue to be impressed by the way our students are able to
participate and contribute to so many extracurricular activities while managing
their classroom assignments and grades.
Kudos to our student actors, athletes and those who participate in the
many opportunities we offer here at CCSD. Also, a big thank you goes out to the
coaches and volunteers who give countless hours to our students; it is this
preparation that enables our students to achieve to such high levels in these
activities and events.
During this season, let’s all take time to give thanks for
the blessings and good fortune we enjoy, and to share with those who have
suffered loss of any kind. I wish for all staff and students a happy, relaxing,
and fulfilling holiday. Cherish
those close to you in the spirit of the season. Share fond memories—and make
new ones—with family and friends. (And watch lots of football!)
Until the snow starts,
Dr. D.
