Newsletter of the Missouri Center for Safe Schools FROM THE DIRECTOR . . .
By the end of January, we will have completed all but one of our third annual safety coordinator trainings. (Note: KCRPDC has scheduled a make-up Advanced Safety Coordinator Training for February 18th, due to inclement weather) The basic and advanced safety coordinator trainings have become a successful way to improve school safety statewide. I commend all the safety coordinators for the time and effort they dedicate to the safety of our children. If you have suggestions for next year’s trainings, please contact Russ or me. A couple of weeks ago, I attended a technology workshop presented by Alan November. Alan is an international leader in educational technology. I had the opportunity to ask him about technology as it relates to school safety. Listed below are a few of his suggestions: Teach students to be ―Web Detectives‖. When evaluating a specific website, ask the following questions: Who, What, When, Where and Why? Elementary/Middle School Teachers need to ask their students on a regular basis the following questions: o What is the students favorite website? o Is the student communicating with anyone online? o Does the student have a website? Teachers need to: o Understand chat rooms o Know how to check their classroom website for links Schools/school districts should conduct forward and reverse website link checks on a regular basis.
February 2003
their safety coordinator was not listed on core data. The Center immediately started getting feedback from the districts that had received the letter. We contacted the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. DESE discovered a problem in the transporting of certain files from the core data site when generating reports. I apologize for the trouble this letter caused your district. The upside to this particular error is it has been corrected for anyone requesting other contact lists in the future. As always, keep up the good work! Glenn Berry
______________________________ FROM RUSTY . . .
Along with budget woes, there are several items of interest to schools. First, our budget was decreased by $1 million for the current year; however, that change should not affect current grant recipients. In the past, additional funds were distributed to 2nd and 3rd year grant recipients and that will not happen this year. Second, CHARACTERplus has several new employees. Character education has been used by many districts as a way to ensure school safety and improve student performance. The "new" people include: Liz Gibbons -- Director of character education programs (800/835-8282) Helen Shores -- Region 3 and 5 facilitator (816/450-3632) Holly Wrisberg -- Region 2, 4 and 9 facilitator (573/445-9221), and Joan Davis -- Region 1, 6, 7 and state program facilitator (417/334-1188).
In December, a letter from the Center was sent out to a number of school districts stating
Page 2
Please contact the individual in your area or your local RPDC to learn more about CHARACTERplus training and resources. Next, we are working with our Internet service provider in getting support for software (i-notes) that will allow you to communicate via a secure email system with your local juvenile officer. The juvenile officers in Missouri are also becoming connected to a larger information network and they will have access to designated information from health and social services. In the future, we will be able to better serve our juveniles by linking our resources and services that can help all students. The Department has been working for the last year with the Office of State Courts Administrators and a grant from the Department of Public Safety’s Division of Juvenile Justice in order to make information sharing a reality. Finally, Safe School continuation grant applications are due by April 1 and first-year Safe School grants are due by June 15. The application forms and manual are available at http://www.dese.state.mo.us. Rusty Rosenkoetter, Director Special State Instructional Programs DESE Dee Beck, Coordinator Federal Programs DESE ______________________________________
ELEVATOR SAFETY
Missouri law (RSMo 701.371) and state regulations require all elevators and similar equipment in the state to be registered with the Elevator Safety Unit of the State Fire Marshal’s Office. In addition, annual periodic inspections must be witnessed by a state-licensed elevator inspector. School maintenance/inspection staff may obtain a copy of the Elevator Safety Act and state rules and regulations from: Elevator Safety Unit P.O. Box 844 Jefferson City, Mo. 65102-0844 e-mail: firesafe@mail.state.us Most elevator company service contracts included periodic safety inspections, however, state law now requires those inspections and tests be witnessed by a state-licensed elevator inspector. This will require the school to ensure that arrangements are made with the elevator service company and state-licensed inspector so that both agents coordinate their schedule accordingly. If violations are noted by the state-licensed inspector, a list of those violations will be left with you. The inspection report will be forwarded to the Elevator Safety Unit and violations must be corrected within 90 days. Some violations will require a reinspection. Upon compliance with state law, the Elevator Safety Unit will issue a state-operating permit. The permit fee is $20.00 per unit. To obtain a list of state-licensed elevator inspectors, please contact Larry Watson, Chief Elevator Inspector, 800-877-5688, or visit their website: www.mdfs.state.mo.us. Elaine Longacre Palmyra Middle School (with review by Larry Watson)
______________________________ FROM DEE . . .
The State Board of Education considered a new rule for identifying Persistently Dangerous Schools at its January meeting. The rule is now available for comment. A very important part of this initiative involves looking carefully at the data each year and working with districts and schools that are in danger of becoming identified. A plan will be developed and implemented that should prevent the school from meeting the criteria, help the children to be safer, and prevent the building from actually being designated as a persistently dangerous school. For more information, please contact Mike Alexander at DESE, malexand@mail.dese.state.mo.us or (573) 7519437.
Page 3 ____________________________________
before the outbreak there was an all school assembly in the gym. The Missouri Department of Conservation was presenting a ―Birds of Prey‖ program. During this assembly a student vomited. It was flapping of the bird’s wings in such a warm, confined area that spread the air-borne virus to so many students and staff. A person is contagious for 2 days after the symptoms disappear. Therefore, the following Friday was another busy - busy day in the school nurse’s office. Needless to say we were thankful for the weekend. Students and staff were reminded of the importance of proper hygiene and good hand washing. Custodians cleaned and disinfected the building as usual. What an experience! Sharon Vandaveer Health Services Coordinator Camdenton R-III School District _______________________________________
NORWALK VIRUS
CAMDENTON - It was Wednesday morning, October 30th, 2002, when I received a call from the registered nurse of Oak Ridge Upper Elementary. She told me that the principal, ten teachers, two cooks, one secretary and so far, eighteen students were absent, all with the same symptoms. I advised Tammie to keep me posted on the numbers. By 9:00 a.m. the nurse’s office was filled with students and 33 were waiting for their parents to pick them up to go home. Our first thought was that the illness was food borne and that we should contact the local health department and ask their advice. Within the hour, members of the health department were interviewing cafeteria staff, checking food temperatures, obtaining food histories, consoling parents and students, providing instructions along with emesis and stool specimen containers. After a short time, it was apparent that the intestinal illness (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, headache, malaise, and low-grade fever) was probably not from school food. Some students and staff that were ill had eaten different food and some who were not had eaten the same food. By the end of the day 90 plus students were sent home and over one hundred had stayed home due to illness. Administration and I were anxiously awaiting the results of the stool and vomit specimens from the lab in Jefferson City. The results showed ―Norwalk-like Virus‖ –similar to the virus that caused a 1972 outbreak of gastrointestinal illness in Norwalk, Ohio. Norwalk Virus is found worldwide and often linked to outbreaks. Infected persons usually recover in 2 to 3 days without serious or long-term health effects. The virus is spread by stool and vomitus. Small amounts of the virus on the hands can be transmitted to another person during preparation of food. Particles in the air from vomiting contain the virus. On the Monday
THREAT ASSESSMENT IN SCHOOLS
Long before Columbine, the increase in targeted school violence made it apparent that schools could benefit from a threat assessment program and training. In every school shooting, there were pre-attack indicators that, if reported and properly investigated, could have prevented the incident. No student wakes up one morning and suddenly decides that it is a good idea to shoot someone. People do not ever ―just snap.‖ To quote Gavin de Becker, who is widely regarded as a world leader in predictive behavior, ―The building process (leading to violence) is as observable as water coming to a boil, so long as you know what to look for and are in a position to observe this behavior.‖ Pre-attack indicators are the tell-tale signs of this psychological building process. These indicators may or may not be based on an actual threat. The goal of a threat assessment is not to determine who made a threat but rather who poses a threat.
Page 4
Inappropriate behavior and communications, while not a threat, are often a much better predictor of violent behavior. An example of inappropriate behavior is demonstrated in this poem written and submitted to a teacher weeks before the author opened fire on his classmates and teachers: Sinking into bed Homicidal feelings fill my head Suicidal thoughts not gone but not fleeing Because it is other people’s death I’m seeing Suicide or Homicide Homicide or Suicide Into sleep I’m sinking Why me I am thinking Homicidal and suicidal thoughts intermixing I know my life’s not worth fixing. The first step in the development of a threat assessment program is creating a threat assessment team. This team can be comprised of administrators, school counselors, teachers, mental health professionals, school resource officers and if available a threat assessment expert. The team will be reliant on the reporting of those in a position to observe pre-attack indicators, so it is imperative that teachers and counselors receive training on what to look for and reporting procedures. Upon reviewing the initial report, the team will determine what course of action to take. Options include immediate intervention, conducting an in-depth investigation, or simply monitoring the student. Once the assessment is made, case management is vital to ensure that the student receives the necessary attention and is properly monitored. Another vital component of the team’s responsibilities will be dealing with privacy rights and reporting issues. If you would like more information on developing a threat assessment program for your school, the Secret Service has developed a Threat Assessment in Schools Guide (www.secretservice.gov) or contact the Missouri Center for Safe Schools. Brad Spicer S.A.F.E. Consulting, L.L.C. P.O. Box 105995 Jefferson City, MO 65110 573.496.3000 ______________________________________
MERCURY DISPOSAL
Still questioning of whether your school can really afford to purchase digital electronic or alcohol thermometers to replace your old mercury thermometers? You can’t afford not to. The following scenario explains why. A mercury thermometer is accidentally dropped on the floor and it breaks. At which point, the standard procedures of carefully evacuating the room and notifying the appropriate personnel at the school to have the hazard cleaned up is followed. The designated clean up person enters the secured room and cleans up the broken thermometer. The average cost for disposal for the debris & mercury generated by the breakage of one thermometer is $248.00 and this is when the clean-up and disposal is handled as regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Transportation. Now suppose the debris is placed into the trashcan! All the debris in the container is then considered to be contaminated with the Metallic Mercury. This simple mistake has now increased the cost of cleanup and disposal tremendously. Unbroken thermometers are considered ―Universal Waste‖ which would allow the schools to gather all the Mercury thermometers for consolidation to a central point for proper disposal. Due to the fact that the Missouri Department of Natural Resources states that up to 11,000 pounds allows the generator of such waste to retain a ―Small Quantity Handler Status‖ there would be no need to apply for a Federal or State Identification number. Regulations are also written so that the school districts could accept this ―Universal Waste‖ from off-site (individual schools) and keep the material for up to 1 year for the sole purpose of facilitating proper recovery or
Page 5
disposal. In lay terms this means that the districts could set up a program to budget, collect, replace, and dispose of the old mercury thermometers with alternative thermometers. Each school would send their mercury thermometers to the designated collection point within their district within a certain time frame. The district would then send all of the thermometers collected to a final location for disposal. The average cost for disposal of mercury thermometers run $15.00 per pound. This figure does not include transportation to pick up the thermometers but if the districts work together to bring the intact thermometers to a designated location within the Kansas City Metro Area then the cost of transportation would average $95.00 to pick up from one designated collection location. or coma. If you suspect that a student may be abusing DXM, encourage the parents to call the family physician. The Help Line for Poisons is 1-800-2221222. Missouri Regional Poison Center SSM Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital (314) 612-5719 ______________________________________
CEASEFIRE
In 1998, the St. Louis Regional Operation Ceasefire Initiative began as a coordinated effort to combat youth violence and gang activity. The initiative includes the City of St. Louis, St. Louis County, Jefferson County in Missouri, and parts of the Southern District of Illinois. Ceasefire is a collaborative effort to bring together everyone who is concerned about gun violence in the community. Organizations involved in the initiative are the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Eastern Missouri and Southern Illinois; Federal, State and Local Law Enforcement; Probation and Parole Offices; Prevention and Intervention and Organizations; Public Schools; Government Leaders; Clergy; Business and Civic Leaders; and various Service Providers. Operation Ceasefire is designed to: Offer alternatives to lives of crime for youth Intervene in the lives of young people who have been in trouble with the law. Take tough action against youth that commit violent crimes. For more information about the Ceasefire Initiative, contact Tom Mehan at 314-539-2283 or thomas.mehan@usdoj.gov. ______________________________________
Monica Baker Waste Express Kansas City, MO (816) 924-5884 ______________________________________
DXM
Dextromethorphan (deks troe meth OR fan) is a non-narcotic cough suppressant used in over the counter cold medications. It works by acting on the part of the brain that controls coughing and is the only antitussive available without a prescription. DXM becomes harmful when the amount taken far exceeds the recommended dose. An alarming new trend for adolescents and young adults is to abuse cough and cold preparations in a tablet form. One 15-year-old girl was brought by ambulance to the emergency room. She was unable to walk without assistance and presented severe mental impairment. Her heart rate was 100 beats per minute. She admitted that she ingested 16 Coricidin tablets to ―get high.‖ Young people also report vivid hallucinations, including dissociative phenomena involving a sense of death coupled with the experience of observing self from outside the body. Other symptoms include: blurred vision, nausea, nervousness, and irritability. Very high doses may result in seizures
SAFETY BELT LAW
Page 6
Adults riding in the front seat of a car, pickup truck, sport utility vehicle or van are required to wear safety belts. Children ages 4-15 must wear safety belts regardless of the type of vehicle in which they are riding or where they are seated (front or back). The graduated driver license law requires drivers holding an intermediate license—and all passengers—to wear a safety belt at all times when operating a motor vehicle. All people operating or riding in a truck with a licensed gross weight less than 12,000 lbs. must wear a safety belt. The only exemptions are for vehicles being used for agricultural activities and U.S. Postal Service workers. All people under age 18 operating or riding in a truck must wear a safety belt regardless of the truck’s licensed gross weight. No person under age 18 is allowed to ride in the unenclosed bed of a truck with a licensed gross weight of less than 12,000 lbs. on lettered highways, federal and state maintained highways, and within city limits. There are exemptions for agricultural purposes, special events and parades. Missouri Division of Highway Safety 1-800-800-BELT www.mdhs.state.mo.us ______________________________________ promoting the hotline number, contact Heather Clemens at 573-522-9802 or Heather_H_Clemens@dssdfs.state.mo.us. The hotline data is not used to evaluate school safety. Hotline tips are passed along to the school district and the local law enforcement agency. Thirty days later, the hotline staff checks back with the school district and local law enforcement agency to determine if the information in the report was accurate and if the issue was successfully resolved. This information is utilized to improve the hotline service. ______________________________________
MEDIATION PROGRAM RECOGNITION
The Heartland Mediators Association, which is an organization that seeks to promote public awareness of alternative dispute resolution methods, is seeking nominations from area schools that excel in the utilization of peer mediation programs. The awarding of the chosen nominees will be conducted at the Heartland Mediators Association Annual Conference in Kansas City, Missouri on April 5, 2003. Location TBA. If you would like to nominate your school, a teacher or student involved in a peer mediation program, please submit the school name, address, and telephone number along with a brief synopsis about the program and why the program or individual should be selected for this award. Submit letter c/o Margaret Nichols and Rhonda Harris, 604 South Grant Ave., Olathe Kansas 66061-4317 or fax (816) 513-1805 by March 10, 2003. Further Info (913) 782-0189. ______________________________________
HOTLINE
We recommend that you include this wording in your Student Handbook: Your safety at school is a top priority for us. If you are aware of a situation that jeopardizes the safety of anyone at school, immediately notify a member of the school staff or your parent/guardian. If you are uncomfortable bringing this situation to the attention of an adult you know, call the Missouri School Violence Hotline at 866748-7047. Your call may be anonymous. Awareness of the Missouri School Violence Hotline continues to improve. If you need materials (pencils, posters, stickers, etc.) for
Dr. Russ Thompson, Associate Director of the Missouri Center for Safe Schools, is the newsletter editor. If you would like to submit an article for a future Missouri Safe Schools Newsletter, please send him your submission by e-mail to thompsonrs@umkc.edu or mail it to:
Page 7
Dr. Russ Thompson, Assoc. Dir. Missouri Center for Safe Schools UMKC School of Education, Suite 024 5100 Rockhill Road Kansas City, MO 64110-2499 Check out the web page for the Missouri Center for Safe Schools at http://www.umkc.edu/safe-school and call us at our offices in the School of Education, University of Missouri-Kansas City, (816) 235-5656.