Winter’s first snow delay…..

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.