School safety resources: Preparedness is key

In light of last month’s tragedy in Connecticut, school safety has been at the forefront of school leaders’ minds. The U.S. Department of Education has compiled a collection of resources related to school safety.

Topics range from helping children recover from traumatic events to creating and updating school emergency management plans. South Dakota Administrative Rule 24:43:09:01 requires school boards to have written plans for the safety of their students. These plans must include drills for events of fire, tornado and other disasters. These disaster preparation drills must be documented and are part of a school’s accreditation process.

Quick thinking and action taken by administrators and teachers prevented further losses during the Sandy Hook tragedy. Although it’s scary to think about, encouraging school boards to have plans in place, and hold drills for, other disaster situations such as this can be key to minimizing losses in the event of a tragedy.

The South Dakota Department of Public Safety can also offer assistance – by reviewing plans and helping to evaluate current or prospective security measures.