Page 2 - Feb2018BPSNews

Our plans for keeping schools safe
Dr. Desmond K. Blackburn BPS Superintendent
Our schools are s ll vulnerable to a ack despite signi cant e orts by BPS to improve safety. Our playgrounds and classrooms could be
targets.
So for our next moves on school security, every serious idea needs to be evaluated.
That’s why Sheri Wayne
Ivey and I put our heads
together and publicly
proposed a four-pronged
strategy for keeping our
students and sta safe.
Some steps are already
underway. Others require discussion by the school board, which probably will ask for public input.
The four parts of BPS’ strategy are:
Sheri Ivey and I introduced this strategy and proposals Monday Feb. 26 at a press conference a ended by school board members. As of this wri ng, board members planned to discuss the ideas publicly before determining
whether to request the marshal program from the Sherri .
Please note what we have not proposed. We have not proposed arming all teachers and sta . Nor have we proposed allowing sta with concealed-carry permits to bring their guns to school.
Meanwhile BPS already has
taken signi cant steps to improve the security of its students and employees:
• Hiring the Brevard Sheri ’s O ce to manage school security. Depu es respond instantly – and frequently - to any reported threat to school safety, including threats made in social media. They also assist principals with “lockdown” drills.
• Providing armed police resource o cers to all high schools and middle schools under contracts with ci es and the sheri .
• Accelera ng building security. This includes the installa on of high-quality security fencing, remote- controlled entrance locks and video cameras at all schools with a goal of comple on by April 2018.
• Publicizing an anonymous hotline. Tipsters can report threatening behavior to the Sheri ’s O ce or police who take threats seriously. That number: 800-423-TIPS (8477). Students have also sent anonymous ps via the P3 app for smartphones.
Vigilance is key. Remember, if you see something, say something.
•
An educa on and awareness campaign. This will include teaching students and sta exactly what to do in case of an ac ve-shooter.
• Con nued“hardening”ofourschools.BPShasalready taken steps such as installing security fencing to create
a “single point of access” at each school that can be monitored by video and locked down with remote controls.
• Moreresourceo cersatschools.Consistentwiththe governor’s plan, we want all elementary schools to have full- me resource o cers as we do at our secondary schools.
• A school marshal program. Sheri Ivey has proposed to the school board a Sheri -Trained Onsite Marshal Program (or STOMP). This program would vet and select school-based volunteers. Those volunteers would undergo 132 hours of intensive training, become depu zed, and be allowed to carry concealed rearms on campuses the way air marshals do on jetliners. Former military and police personnel would be ideal candidates, the sheri said.
BPS NEWS is a publica on of Brevard Public Schools.
Superintendent
Desmond K. Blackburn, Ph.D.
School Board Members
Chairperson: John Craig, District 2
Vice Chairman: Tina Descovich, District 3 Misty Belford, District 1
Ma hew Susin, District 4
Andy Ziegler, District 5
Published by the Division of Government and Community Rela ons
Assistant Superintendent: Ma Reed Editor: Jennifer Wol nger
Graphic Designer: Daniel Jankowski
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