Please tell us your thoughts on school safety.
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What does the school division do well in providing for school safety and security?
The rule that adults must enter through the front door and show ID is well enforced at my son's school. You must say who you are there to see and sign a log. The other doors are kept locked or are watched during the day, as far as I can tell. So access is controlled, which is a good first step. And comments, even made casually or in jest, are taken very seriously with what appears to be a protocol.
What gaps exist regarding school safety and security that need to be addressed?
Besides controlling access and keeping an eye on things, I'm not aware of major other steps. Major additional security steps (armed guards, metal detectors, etc.) would be disruptive and I don't believe are truly necessary at our school, but random locker searches might reinforce that school is a public place and that kids are responsible for making choices accordingly. I don't know if part of the beginning of school plan goes over with the children what is and is not allowed to be brought to school (in backpacks, for example), but that might help them be aware of it and spark conversation about being responsible.
What new resources can be added or what existing resources can be used in different ways to strengthen school safety and security?
It might be controversial, but less so than arming people in the schools I think, but get the kids involved in watching out for their school and schoolmates more. There are tons of eyes and kids do notice things, so "train" or teach them what to do. We tell them what to do if a stranger approaches them, we tell them what to do if someone offers them drugs (or we used to), so we can tell them what to do if they see something or hear something. And part of that can be about kindness, not just telling them that bullying isn't cool, but encourage and reward kindness. Our school actually does do this with opportunities for teachers to reward kids for good citizenship - more of that so it becomes more of a habit. Maybe some assemblies about these things so they hear it from someone "cooler" than their parents as well.