Date of Award
2002
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education
Department
EdD Program for Educational Leaders
Keywords
administrators, basic school safety equipment, community stakeholders, community-school partnership, educators, elementary school, informal assessment, intercom system, learning environment, parents, positive perception, rural school, safer work environment, safety assessment, safety initiative team, safety plan, school building and grounds, school safety, security cameras, stakeholders, student population, student safety training, students, support network, teacher safety training, teachers, unsafe environment, walkie-talkies
Abstract
This report describes a program that was implemented to ensure an orderly and safe learning environment at a rural elementary school with a student population of approximately 285. An informal assessment of the school building and grounds revealed that the students were exposed to an unsafe and insecure school environment.
Planned solution strategies included (a) a school safety assessment, (b) an updated school safety plan, (c) a safety initiative team, (d) student and teacher safety training, and (e) the purchase of basic school safety equipment. These intervention strategies involved parents, students, teachers, administrators, and other community stakeholders. The process began in September 2000 and continued through September 2001.
This practicum helped to provide a safer and more secure learning and work environment for students and educators. The most noticeable safety change was the purchase and installation of security cameras, an intercom system, and walkie-talkies. Of the 165 stakeholders who were surveyed, 137 (83%) indicated a positive change in their perception of school safety. An unexpected development during the practicum implementation was the strong community-school partnership and support network that was established.