Emergency Lock-down Drill

by Robert "Bob" Lewandowski

Tomorrow, Friday, April 13, 2018 our schools will undergo emergency lock-down drills. The drill will take place at each building and will be happening at different times throughout the day. This is NOT an active shooter drill. It is only a lock-down drill. Students and staff will be asked to respond to a lock-down alarm. The District believes that practicing emergency drills will best prepare our students and staff in the case of an actual emergency.

Upon completion of each drill the administration team gathers to provide evidence of our efficiency of lock-down procedures. We log this data as it is our goal to improve each time we drill. Furthermore, we are trying to drill at different times during the day to enhance our student and staff's understanding of each drill at it applies to different situations.

GO COLTS! GO FILLIES! 

MAKE DUST OR EAT DUST!

"Get out in front and stay there!"

Responding To School Violence

by Robert "Bob" Lewandowski

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the 17 victims as well as the community of Parkland, Florida and Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School where a school shooting had taken place on February 14, 2018. This horrific tragedy and heinous crime has educators, parents and communities asking: "What can be done to prevent these types of things from happening in our schools?" Many constituents are asking their education officials: What is being done to prevent this from happening in their schools?" 

At Colstrip Public Schools we follow a School Crisis Response Plan in order to execute emergency procedures in emergency situations from specific isolated emergencies to major disasters. The objectives of Colstrip school emergency operations program are to protect the lives and well-being of its students and staff through the prompt and timely response of trained school personnel should an emergency affect the school. To meet these objectives, the school has established and maintains a comprehensive emergency operations program that includes plans and procedures, hazard analysis, security audits, training and exercise, and plan review and maintenance. 

In addition to emergency procedures, our district has implemented video surveillance and lock-down technology to secure it's building from outside threats. The staff is trained in first aid, CPR and AED use. The district has also entered into a partnership with the local policy department that provides a School Resource Officer twenty hours a week. Even though the District is prepared, we also need to be preventative.

Probably one of the most significant preventative measures we have implemented is a Quantum Learning concept called Home Court Advantage or HCA. This concept is based on Safety, Support and Belonging. It is a chant our students, K-12 know, but are learning the deeper meaning behind the concept. It isn't enough just to know what to do in an emergency, but more importantly what should we be doing to prevent tragedies from happening. HCA provides a foundation for understanding expectations and actions.

Providing safety, support and belonging to all members of this district is essential to learning outcomes and growth. Abraham Maslow created a frame-work in which people generally move through in order to attain self actualization. Safety, support and belonging must be obtained before a person's full potential can be realized.

HCA is about caring for one another and recognizing basic needs. Basic human needs that surround the human dimensions (see below):

• Physical: Physiologic needs: breathing, circulation, temperature, food and etc.
• Environmental: Safety and security needs: housing, community, climate and etc.
• Soicalcultural: Love and belonging needs: relationships, support, part of a community and etc.
• Emotional: Self-esteem needs: Hope, joy, happiness, accepting of self.
• Intellectual/spiritual: Self-actualization needs: thinking, learning, decision making, values, beliefs, fulfillment, helping others.

All basic human needs are interrelated and may require actions at more than one level at a given time. For example, in caring for a person coming into the emergency department with a heart attack, the nurse’s immediate concern in the patient’s physiologic needs (e.g., oxygen and pain relief). At the same time, safety needs (e.g., for ensuring that the person does not fall off the examining table) and love and belonging needs (e.g., for having a family member nearby if possible) are still major considerations.^[11]

At Colstrip Public Schools Home Court Advantage is essential in supporting its Core Purpose:

• SAFETY: Every student will attend a "safe" environment. Students will always be assured that this school is their safe haven from harm's way. Every student's dignity is protected here!
• SUPPORT: Every student will receive support from every member in this school. We will pick each other up when we are down and will applaud individual and group success. Everyone is a part of this school and everyone will support those in it.
• BELONGING: Every student is valued in this school! This is our school and our students' home away from home. It is a place of welcome and family for everyone!

 Please know we are working towards perfecting these concepts in our daily work. As we improve, our students, staff and community can be more confident in the safety provided when school is in session.

GO COLTS! GO FILLIES! 

MAKE DUST OR EAT DUST!

"Get out in front and stay there!"

 

Core Purpose is Served Through New Partnership

by Robert "Bob" Lewandowski

School Resource Officer Monty McNearney

The School District has extended an invitation for partnership with the Colstrip Police Department. Together the organizations will address the challenges and opportunities in protecting, supporting and keeping our schools safe.

The Colstrip school faculty, administration and board believe that law enforcement presence will encourage appropriate behavior and choices throughout the school system.  

During this working partnership, the Colstrip Police Department will provide a part-time officer (20 hours per week) as the school resource officer (SRO) through the end of this school year 2017-2018. This is at no cost to the School District. As a guideline, the officer will spend approximately 50% of his/her time in the high school, 35% in the middle school and 15% in the elementary.  

Officer Monty McNearney will serve as the part time School Resource Officer (SRO). With this in mind, we would like to welcome our new partnership with the Police Department as well as Officer Monty McNearney. 

NOTE: These actions and agreements are supported by the District's Core Purpose:
The Core Purpose of Colstrip Public Schools is to effectively focus on learning and growth for all students in a safe, healthy, caring and collaborative environment that ensures each student achieves intellectual and personal excellence, and is well prepared for college and career pathways. 

GO COLTS! GO FILLIES! 

MAKE DUST OR EAT DUST!

"Get out in front and stay there!"

Changes in Security Access Control

Frequency Operated Button Reader for
remote door entry. Located at all main
entries.

by Robert "Bob" Lewandowski

Our school district in response to continued senseless school shootings and security breeches across our country has implemented some additional crisis prevention measures for the safety of our children and staff. This year alone there have been nine (9) school shootings in the United States with four months left in the year. In 2015 there were twenty (20) shootings in schools according to Wikipedia's "List of Shootings in the United States." In response to such horrific acts, we know that not all tragedies can be prevented, but we need to do everything possible to keep our children and staff out of harm's way.

School safety is our number one priority at Colstrip. In response, the district is tightening up safety protocols that are already in place as well as implementing new preventative measures that may inconvenience the public and traffic flow throughout our schools. While there are only a few changes, we ask everyone to be patient and cooperate with the District in providing a safe environment for all.

Because our buildings were designed before tragedies like Columbine (1999) and that of Sandy Hook (2012), we have multiple entries into our buildings that will have to be redirected. These changes will come at some inconvenience to the students, staff and public, but are necessary. We want to do everything possible to prevent and prepare for possible emergencies in our community. Restricting unmonitored access to students and staff is the first step. 

Public Access Changes:

1. All doors except for the main entries will be locked.
2. All access into any of the buildings by visitors must flow through the main entries.
3. All visitors must check in at the front office of the respective school visited and receive appropriate visitor tags to be worn while they are in the building. This includes parents, past students and community members.

In addition to restricting and redirecting public access, the district has implemented a new security access control system. All employees will use a FOB (frequency operated button) to enter into any facility across the district. Keys will no longer be used for entry through our external doors. Old keys will no longer work. The security access system will recognize the FOB held up by its owner and momentarily unlock the door for entry. The system will record the time of day each FOB and its owner enters the building.

Once again, during school hours all doors will be locked. Parents and community members that wish to enter the school during the school day, must enter the main entrance at the far right door and then push the view panel button located in the breezeway of each school entry (this is clearly marked).When the button is pushed the staff will be able to see the guest and then allow entry into the office area. If a guest does not report directly to the office, the school will go into lockdown with a sounding alarm. Once again, student safety will not be compromised.

Another necessary inconvenience will be the scheduling of our building. All school activities will be scheduled into the security access system in order to allow doors to remain open during events. Activities that are not schedule through each building office will not be recognized or allowed entry. We are asking those of you that wish to use the building to request your event to be scheduled 72 hours prior to your event. Please see Board Policy 4330, Facility Use Agreement for additional details. 

Providing for the safety and security of our school district's students and employees is critical. The inconveniences and extra work are necessary. Colstrip Public Schools is doing everything possible to embrace the challenges of change as well as the opportunities they present. We hope that you will be able to support these changes in order to better serve our community.

GO COLTS! GO FILLIES! 

MAKE DUST OR EAT DUST!

"Get out in front and stay there!"

Emergency Operations Planning

by Robert "Bob" Lewandowski

On August 2, 2016 the Colstrip Public School District #19 will be reviewing their current Crisis Response Plan to ensure the best emergency management and operations in the event of a crisis. We have invited stakeholders that would play a significant role in an emergency response to join the District in reviewing and updating the current plan.  

This group is made up of approximately 50 individuals from school officials, law enforcement to emergency response agencies from around the area. This Emergency Operations Planning Team will incorporate new technologies and resources to create a new plan that takes an all-hazards approach to emergency management and plans for mitigation, prevention, preparedness, response and recovery that support the mission and goals of the District in case of a emergency or disaster.

The mission of Colstrip Public School District #19 in an emergency/disaster is to:

1. Protect lives and property
2. Respond to emergencies promptly and properly
3. Coordinate with local emergency operations plans and community resources
4. Aid in recovery from disasters

The goals of Colstrip Public School District #19 are to:

1. Provide emergency response plans, services, and supplies for all facilities and employees
2. Ensure the safety and supervision of students, faculty, staff and visitors to the school.
3. Restore normal services as quickly as possible
4. Coordinate the use of school personnel and facilities
5. Provide detailed and accurate documentation of emergencies to aid in the recovery process

Colstrip Public School District #19 is doing everything possible to provide and promote SAFETY, SUPPORT and SECURITY for the students that attend our schools.

GO COLTS! GO FILLIES! 

MAKE DUST OR EAT DUST!

"Get out in front and stay there!"