Spotlight: Student Safety

The Hicksville Illustrated News Online reported that the quick action of one science teacher was able to save a student from a choking incident. Seventh-grade student Kenneth Goubran of Hicksville Middle School was in the cafeteria of his school when a mozzarella stick became lodged in his throat. Seeing this, science teacher Joseph Surgot came to the boy’s aid and performed the Heimlich maneuver. Surgot performed the maneuver twice and was able to dislodge the food from Goubrans’ throat. Surgot was commended for this heroic act by Superintendent Maureen Bright at a district-wide conference day.

The quick action of this teacher and his training in the Heimlich Maneuver helped ensure the safety of a student. It is important for all staff to receive training like this so they can come to the aid of students when need be. With PublicSchoolWORKS’ Heimlich Maneuver course, staff can learn the signs of chocking and the proper procedures to act if and when a student experiences a chocking incident. Has anyone on your staff intervened in a critical situation that resulted in a positive outcome for one or your students? Share your stories with us on Twitter @PSWORKS

Source: Hicksville Illustrated News

EmployeeSafe: Termination Policies and Procedures

According to a recent article in the Chicago Tribune, a Hoffman Estates High School math teacher resigned after school officials were notified by a social worker that she was living with a student. The living arrangement was made when the male student learned that his mother was moving out of the Hoffman Estates area. The parent and teacher agreed to have the student move in with the teacher in order to keep him at the school. The teacher did not notify school officials about this agreement and according to a district spokesperson the teacher was in violation of board policy regarding Prohibition of Sexual Contact and Sexual Involvement with Students. The Department of Children and Family Services found out about the living situation and immediately removed the student from the teacher’s home. The teacher was placed on "emergency suspension" without pay.

It is important to educate staff on the all board policies and procedures, as well as required reporting of issues related to students in order to promote an environment of safety. With PublicSchoolWORKS’ EmployeeSafe Suite, staff will learn board policies and procedures related to staff conduct. Is your staff informed of the proper policies and procedures regarding student interaction? How do you promote an environment of safety for your students? Share your comments on our Facebook page.


Source: Chicago Tribune

EmployeeSafe: Spotlight on Safety Document Management System

With the new school year comes the need to document safety procedures. Check out PublicSchoolWORKS’ (PSW) Safety Document Management System, part of the award-winning EmployeeSafe Suite. The Staff Safety Management System includes a complete library of written safety compliance forms, plans and other recordkeeping documents necessary to meet and ensure compliance with local, state and federal safety requirements. It also features:

• Safety Document-On-Demand Management System
• Safety Inspections & Checklists
• Written Plans & Programs
• Regulations Library
• Shared Customer Document Library

To learn more about PSW’s Safety Document Management System, email sales@publicschoolworks.com

StudentWatch Suite: Streamlining Communication

With the school year in full swing, it is essential that students and parents are able to communicate their concerns clearly and effectively. The PublicSchoolWORKS Bullying Reporting System automates the management, notification, tracking, documentation and resolution of student and parent reports to improve response times and recordkeeping. With the Student Bullying Reporting System, part of the Award-winning StudentWatch Suite, districts can also provide their students and parents with a variety of communication tools, including:

• Online Reporting – Available in English, Spanish and French
• Telephone Hotline Reporting
• Crisis Hotlines

To learn more about the Bullying Reporting System, email sales@publicschoolworks.com

Spotlight: Violence Against Students

At Whitehead Road Elementary School in Athens, Georgia a paraprofessional has been put on leave after placing packaging tape over a student’s mouth. While the incident was immediately reported by the classroom teacher, according to The Huffington Post, the state of Georgia is one of 19 states that still allow corporal punishment in its schools. The incident, which allegedly took place because the student would not stop talking, is one that Clark Country Superintendent of Schools, Philip Lanoue, says is not allowed at the elementary school.

Is your staff trained on proper classroom conduct for students and staff? Does your staff have a way to effectively communicate concerns regarding student safety? Would they know how to respond quickly to an issue? Share your comments on our Facebook page.

Source: The Huffington Post

EmployeeSafe: Staff Training Saves Lives

Recently two Texas teachers, Kristen Goodgion and Brent Reese, came to the aid of Kylee Shea after being informed by students that she had collapsed in her school’s hallway. According to the Huffington Post, Goodgion says she and Reese relied on their AED and CPR training, despite the fact that they had never used the paddles before in a real-life situation. The quick action and prior training of both teachers led to the survival of this seventh-grade student who is currently doing well.

With PublicSchoolWORKS’ AED Staff Training courses, staff learn the necessary procedures and when to utilize an Automatic External Defibrillator which, in cases like Shea’s, could be the difference between life and death. Do you think your staff would know what to do if a student or another employee was in need of immediate medical assistance? What kind of training do you provide staff to ensure they know what to do when the time comes to intervene? Share your thoughts with us on Twitter @PSWORKS.

Source: The Huffington Post

Spotlight: Homeless Education

Susan Castillo, the Oregon State School Superintendent, recently released some concerning information regarding the number of homeless students in the state. According to KTVZ.com, Castillo revealed that more than 20,000 K-12 students in the state of Oregon are homeless. The article states that the numbers are increasing due to the current U.S. economic climate. Because of this, school districts have an increasing need to be able to identify students who need help and provide the necessary tools to get them in and keep them in school.

With PublicSchoolWORKS’ Homeless Education: Providing Equal Access training course, staff will learn important information like: how to best handle a homeless student’s lack of documentation records in accordance with the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act and how to deal with the potential health risks a student may face as a result of a lack of immunizations. In addition, staff will receive important background information on the evolving homeless community in the United States. Do you have students in your school dealing with homelessness? Does your staff know what procedures to take in accordance with federal laws concerning student homelessness? How have you helped the homeless children you serve? Share your stories with us on Twitter @PSWORKS

Source: KTVZ Online

EmployeeSafe: Violence Prevention in Schools Course

In a recent article on ABC news, a student at Sequoyah High School in Madisonville, Tennessee said his school principal bullied him for supporting the establishment of a gay-straight alliance at his school. The 17-year-old student, Chris Sigler, claims that he was shoved, bumped in the chest and verbally assaulted after wearing a shirt reading “GSA We Got Your Back.” The Principal, Maurice Moser did not comment on the incident.

With the PublicSchoolWORKS Violence Prevention in Schools Course, staff can become educated about the psychological risks of youth violence, characteristics of a safe school, and tips for de-escalating events of violence.

Has your district experienced a report of staff showing violence toward a student? What did your district do about it? How do you ensure all staff are following a code of ethics related to safe schools? Share your comments on our Facebook page.

Source: ABC News

EmployeeSafe Suite: Prepare for Winter

As fall flies by and we start to prepare for winter, it is time to retrain staff on Slips, Trips and Falls. Districts can easily train staff with PublicSchoolWORKS’ Staff Training System, part of the award-winning EmployeeSafe Suite. The Staff Training System automates the training of staff and will get them thinking about how to protect themselves when walking on slick surfaces. EmployeeSafe is a suite of programs designed to implement anything from training only, to a comprehensive school safety program. EmployeeSafe includes training courses, written plans, programs and procedures, checklists, inspections, MSDS and other tools. In addition, suite programs can be customized to include tools and content provided by individual school districts. The EmployeeSafe Suite features eight different modules, including:

• Staff Training
• Employee Accident Management
• OSHA 300 Reporting
• Compliance Task Management (non-training)
• MSDS Now!
• Staff Safety Reporting
• Staff Sexual Harassment Reporting
• Staff Telephone Helplines
• Safety Document Management


To learn more about PSW’s EmployeeSafe Suite, email sales@publicschoolworks.com

StudentWatch: Spotlight on Youth Violence

In Plymouth, Massachusetts four girls have been suspended from school as the result of Columbine-like threats they posted on a social media site. The four girls, ages 15 to 17, were reported by a parent and a student after they viewed the threats on Facebook. Police are currently investigating the alleged online threats and stated they found no weapons in the girls’ lockers.

With PublicSchoolWORKS’ Student Safety Reporting System, part of its award-winning StudentWatch Suite, parents and students are provided with 24/7 online and telephone reporting tools enabling them to report issues that might impact the safety of students, staff, or property. How do you make your students aware of the importance of reporting safety issues? Share your comments on our Facebook page.

Source: The Boston Herald

Spotlight on New Bullying Law

According to the New York Times, the aftermath of bullying incidents nationally and the public outcry from the death of Rutgers University Freshman, Tyler Clementi, pushed the state of New Jersey to pass the Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights. The bill, which went into effect September 1, 2011, is being noted as the toughest bullying legislation in the country. Many teachers and administrators expressed concerns about the law because it demands that all public schools increase staff training, adhere to tight deadlines for reporting episodes and adopt comprehensive antibullying policies. A failure to comply with the implemented policies can result in educators losing their licenses. The executive director of the New Jersey Association of School Administrators, Richard G. Bozza, commented on the policy stating that schools do not have the resources or the staff to monitor the community in the manner the bill requires.

With legislation like the Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights and the number of budget and staff cuts facing districts, it is important for administrators and teachers to have the resources necessary to easily and quickly report and track all bullying incidents. With PublicSchoolWORKS’ Student Bullying Reporting System, part of the award-winning StudentWatch suite, parents and students are provided with 24/7 online and telephone systems to report bullying incidents. These include built-in communication tools that immediately notify school administrators when an incident is reported. This system helps districts meet state mandates and provides tools for initiating, documenting and recording district and school responses to each reported concern. It also features live attendants who are able to receive information and initiate contact with various national crisis hotlines that may help a student deal with a personal emergency. Have you had a need for a bullying management system? Share your stories with us on Twitter @PSWORKS

Source: The New York Times

Safety Thought

Alvina Sheeley is one of eight candidates running for a Fairfield-Suisun school board seat in this November’s election. Despite spending almost 22 years as a teacher, this 70 year-old woman and school board candidate was arrested for abducting four young girls from a bus stop in 1998. Although she admits fault in the abduction, stating that she was under mental duress, and her teaching credentials remain revoked, if elected she could help drive the policy of this school district.

Do you think individuals with records such as Sheeley’s should be allowed to work in an educational leadership role? What would you do if your district had somebody running for a position on your school board that had a record that included harming a child? Can you have a say in the process? Share your thoughts with us on Twitter@PSWORKS

Source: The Daily Republic

Health and Safety

The American Diabetes Association recently came out with an article urging non-medical school personnel to provide supplementary diabetes care for students. While the school nurse is primarily responsible for monitoring a student’s diabetes plan, the diabetes health care community feels it may be too much for one nurse to monitor, since many nurses are required to visit multiple locations in a day.

PublicSchoolWORKS’ Students with Diabetes course helps provide information to staff to help them respond to students’ diabetic issues in a timely manner.

Will your staff recognize symptoms of advanced hypoglycemia? Would they know how to respond quickly to an issue? Share your comments on our Facebook page.

Source: American Diabetes Association

StudentWatch: Spotlight on Youth Violence

At Memphis Junior Academy in Memphis, Tennessee, 17 year-old student Eduardo Marmolejo stabbed his principal Suzette York to death. According to the police affidavit, Marmolejo had been planning the attack since last May because he “did not like her and she made him angry.” The attack took place in an empty classroom where Marmolejo knew he and York would be alone. The young man accused has admitted to stabbing the victim multiple times and leaving her in a pool of blood at the East Memphis private school. Both the prosecuting attorney and the defense attorneys in the case have asked for mental evaluations of the teenager.

Have you been made aware of a situation that could have escalated to violence with one of your students? If so, what did you do about it? Share your comments on our Facebook page.

Source: The Commercial Appeal

Spotlight on School Shooting Plot

In St. Tammany, Louisiana, three 15-year-olds have been arrested for plotting to kill at least one student and any law enforcement officers who might respond to the scene. Police believe they have arrested all of the individuals involved in the Lakeshore High School plot, but have not released any information regarding the motive. A prayer vigil was held the night before the start of school for concerned parents and students. The school principal has responded by calling parents to ensure additional security has been added at the school, as well as staff and counselors on-site to assist with concerned students.

With PublicSchoolWORKS’ Computer Reporting and Hotline Reporting systems, part of its award-winning StudentWatch Suite, parents and students are provided with 24/7 online and telephone reporting systems enabling them to report issues that might impact the safety of staff, students or property. These concerns include everything from weapons and drugs to self-injury issues like suicide, cutting and more. Has your school or district been a victim of violent threats? What tools did you provide to your students and parents to help them have a voice in the district? Share your stories with us on Twitter @PSWORKS

Source: WWLTV

Safety Thought

A notable debate concerning playground safety is taking place among psychologists, parents, and students in your very own back yard. While some feel that the muscular and emotional benefits of more “dangerous equipment” outweighs the risks, New York City has removed merry-go-rounds, seesaws, and tire swings on its playgrounds for fear of litigation.

What policies do you have to ensure school equipment safety? Are your playgrounds following your state’s codes and regulations? Share your stories with us on Twitter@PSWORKS.

Source: The New York Times

EmployeeSafe: Schools Tighten Up On Safety Drills

In Pennsylvania the first ever police school safety drill has taken place inside of a school. A total of 30 state and local officers entered Pocono Mountain East High School as part of the school safety demonstration. With guns drawn and safety shields up, the officers searched the school as part of their real-life training on how to respond if a gunman were on the loose at the school. One trooper expressed that waiting for something to happen is no longer their philosophy.

With an increased number of threats and attacks on schools, it is imperative that authorities and administrators implement a plan of action for situations posing a threat to school safety. While this school has begun the process of preparing for such situations many others have not.

How are you preparing for potential threats to you school? Have you developed a plan of action with your staff and local law enforcement? Share your comments on our Facebook page.

Source: WNEP-TV

Safty Thought: School Safty Policies

Albany Middle School in California is now using a “safe school ambassadors” program to keep the peace and build bridges among the school’s cliquey sixth through eighth grade students. According to the Albany Patch, 41 students who were considered influential to various cliques and social groups were selected to receive training in an effort to get rid of the bullying. Throughout their training, students learned how to talk, care and stand up for each other, no matter their background or clique. The “safe school ambassadors” have been given the tools to diffuse bullying, while being empowered to stand up and intervene when someone is being mistreated. The “safe school ambassadors” program is now being used in 900 schools around the country.

Knowing students have the power to influence each other, do you think a “safe school ambassadors” program would work well at your school? How have your students worked together to put an end to bullying at your school? Share your stories with us on Twitter @PSWORKS.

Source: Albany Patch

Youth Violence: Guns in Schools

After being bullied, abused, taunted and called names for months, 11-year-old Brenton Peraita told his bullies he wished for a gun to get rid of them. Shortly after his comment was made, Peraita was arrested for making criminal threats. Even though Peraita and his family made nearly 50 complaints to school administrators, it took Peraita sticking up for himself to end the teasing. Peraita was not the only one who got into trouble. In addition to arresting Peraita, police issued citations to the three students who had allegedly been bullying him.

Peraita, the victim, decided to use scare tactics on his bullies and was the one who got arrested. What went wrong here? Why was more not done after so many complaints by Peraita’s family? How can schools ensure that the victim is looked out for and not driven to a point of violence?

Share your thoughts and stories with us on Twitter @PSWORKS.

Source: Fox News Online

Safety Thought: New Policies for School Discipline

As the new school year approaches, the North Carolina General Assembly has approved legislation that will change 32 policies for the 2011-12 academic year. The policy changes, are being implemented to reduce the number of school suspensions. According to the new set of policies, only the possession of a firearm on school property will result in a 365-day suspension. In addition, long-term suspensions are being limited to incidences that disrupt the educational environment or threaten staff, student or school visitor safety.

What policies are you putting in place for your school this year? What policies do you have to ensure both student attendance and school safety? Share your stories with us on Twitter@PSWORKS.

Source: The Mount Airy News

Spotlight on School Kickback Scheme

Former North Chicago School Board Member, Gloria Harper, and the head of district transportation, Alice Sherrod, along with three other contractors, face a 26-count indictment because of a kickback scheme. According to the Chicago Sun Times, beginning in 2001, both women were said to be collecting money in exchange for providing business to suburban bus companies. This indictment calls for the forfeiture of 48 busses and vans, seven personal automobiles and nearly $10 million dollars.

Some school districts do not provide staff with the ability to report issues such as fraud, which can lead to incidences like those in North Chicago. PublicSchoolWORKS’ Fraud Reporting System, which is a part of its award-winning EmployeeSafe Suite, provides school staff with the ability to quickly report fraud, suspicious activity, harassment and other risk issues. Once a report has been entered, the system quickly notifies the appropriate people to intervene. This helps schools address situations that could otherwise go undetected for long periods of time before ever being investigated. Being able to intervene more quickly can help to limit the legal exposure often associated with these issues and can help administrators answer the question, “What did you do?” Has your school or district been a victim of employee fraud? Share your stories with us on Twitter @PSWORKS.

Source:The Chicago Sun-Times

StudentWatch: Youth Violence –Florida Teen Tips off Friend before Murdering Parents

In West Palm Beach, Florida, seventeen year old Tyler Hadley is being held without bond after being charged with the murder of his parents. A sad addition to this story is that Hadley told his best friend he was going to kill his parents several times before he actually committed the crime. This same friend later tipped off police to the killings after Hadley showed him his parents’ bodies at a party he threw after he killed his parents. Hadley’s public defender has entered a plea of not guilty.

Would this friend’s timely communication to authorities or school administrators through a tip line have changed the tragic outcome of this event? How do we instill in students the importance of treating threats to others seriously? While this teen had threatened to harm his parents before, any and all threats should be reported. If authorities had been could have involved in threats earlier, just by him knowing that other adults were aware of his thoughts it could have changed the outcome of events. In addition, authorities could have sought appropriate counseling for him and his parents.

Have you been made aware of a situation that could have escalated to violence with one of your students? If so, what did you do about it? Share your comments on our Facebook page.

Source: The Huffington Post Online

EmployeeWatch: Spotlight on School Theft

Theft by school staff and officials is a topic that frequents media headlines. In Wildomore, California Jose Cavajal, an ex-Lake Elsinore Unified School District official has been charged with draining approximately $5,000 from a district purchasing account. Cavajal is being charged with one felony count of embezzlement for allegedly stealing the money after his employment ended in 2010. Cavajal served as a public information officer for the district and had access to the account.

PublicSchoolWORKS’ Fraud Reporting System, which is a part of its award-winning EmployeeSafe Suite, provides school staff with the ability to quickly report issues such as fraud, suspicious activity, harassment and other risk issues. Once a report has been entered, the system quickly notifies the appropriate people to intervene. This helps schools address situations that could otherwise go undetected for long periods of time before ever being investigated. Being able to intervene more quickly can help to limit the legal exposure often associated with these issues and can help administrators answer the question, “What did you do?” Has your school or district been a victim of employee fraud? Share your stories with us on Twitter @PSWORKS

Source: Lake Elsinore-Wildomar Patch

Safety Thought: Prevent Your School from Closing

What would you do if there were cracks in your schools chairs and broken desks? Who would you contact if the bathrooms at your school had no soap in the dispensers or toilet paper in the stalls? As result of the Guam Department of Educations’ (DOE) failure to address various health violations, the Department of Public Health and Social Services closed Simon Sanchez High School. The closure resulted from numerous violations including baseboards in disrepair, cracked floor tiles, empty toilet paper dispensers and leaking ceilings. The Guam DOE Superintendent Nerissa Bretania Underwood said the first inspection had a specific list of violations and at least several of them were addressed.

How could this have been prevented? What is your school doing to make sure that staff and students are safe? Are you in jeopardy of closing your doors? Share your stories with us on Twitter @PSWORKS.

Source: Guampdn.com

Safety Thought: School Safety Policies

According to Philly.com. a federal grand jury has indicted two former top charter school officials, Hugh C. Clark and Ina M. Walker, in Northwest Philadelphia on charges of stealing $522,000. Clark, the president of the charter’s board and Walker, the charter school’s chief executive officer, allegedly used the money slated for New Media Charter School to pay expenses at another small private school they controlled called Lotus Academy. They also used the money to fund personal businesses, including the Black Olive health-food store and restaurant in Mount Airy. Lastly, they used some of the money for personal expenses, including meals and credit-card bills. The Philadelphia School Reform Commission (SRC) forced the pair to step down and cut all ties to the charter school. The SRC also required all members of the charter board to step down.

PublicSchoolWORKS’ Fraud Reporting System, which is a part of its award-winning EmployeeSafe Suite, provides school staff with the ability to quickly report issues such as fraud, suspicious activity, harassment and other risk issues. Once a report has been entered, the system quickly notifies the appropriate people to intervene. This helps schools address situations that could otherwise go undetected for long periods of time before ever being investigated. Being able to intervene more quickly can help to limit the legal exposure often associated with these issues and can help administrators answer the question, “What did you do.” Has your school or district been a victim of employee fraud? Share your stories with us on Twitter @PSWORKS.

Source: Philly.com

Youth Violence: School Bullying Correlates to Partner Violence

Have you ever heard someone say, “They are just being kids?” Has anyone ever told you, “I’m sure they will grow out of it?” According to two online studies published in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine and the Archives of General Psychiatry, boys who bully their peers as a children are more likely to commit intimate partner violence (IPV) as adults. In a sample of 1,491 men from ages 18 to 35 the study found that men who are violent have increased gray matter volume in their mesolimbic reward systems.

Rather than ignoring bullying use PSW’s Student Bullying Reporting System. It provides 24/7 online and telephone systems with built-in communication tools that immediately notify school administrators when an issue is reported. How often do your students/parents report bullying? Do you have a way to track bullying issues in order to address them before the situation gets out of hand? How do you prepare parents and students to deal with bullying? Share your answers to these questions by joining the discussion on our Facebook page.

Source: Doctors Lounge Online

Youth violence: When Parents Encourage Fighting

Has your student/child ever told you they were being bullied? How did you advise him/her to handle the situation? In Halethorpe, MD, one mother decided to encourage her son to fight his bully. Kelly White, mother of a middle school student, said she was scared for her son’s life if he didn’t stand up for himself. When White’s son told her the week before that he was being bullied, she decided she wanted to teach her son a lesson in standing up for himself, so she encouraged him to get mad and fight his bully. According to WJZ.com, while White felt she was protecting her child, she is now facing multiple charges including second-degree child abuse and second-degree assault.

Instead of fighting back when bullied, parents and students can use PSW’s Student Bullying Reporting System. It provides 24/7 online and telephone systems with built-in communication tools that immediately notify school administrators when an issue is reported. How often do your students/parents report bullying? Do you have a way to track bullying issues in order to address them before the situation gets out of hand? How do you prepare parents and students to deal with bullying? Share your answers to these questions by joining the discussion on our Facebook page.

Source: CBS Local News Online

Safety Thought: When Bullies Grow Up

What happens when school-yard bullies are allowed to bully, then grow up to continue hurting others emotionally, mentally or physically? In Oklahoma, two men and two women attacked Stetson Johnson, an 18 year-old boy with learning disabilities, after he allegedly tried to have sex with one of the women. The group of four tattooed ‘RAPEST’ on his forehead, yelled obscenities at him, shocked him with a stun gun, then took him to a field and beat him unconscious with a baseball bat. The group is being held without bail with recommended charges of assault and battery, maiming by disfigurement and kidnapping. According to a police report, police seized tattoo guns, needles, ink and a Taser gun after the suspects were taken into custody. Johnson, who has the mentality of a fifth-grader, now has scars from the attack, trouble breathing, trouble seeing out of one eye and suffers from anxiety.

What could have schools done to teach these young adults about compassion and respect for others? What is your school or district doing to teach students bullying is not okay? Share your stories with us on Twitter @PSWORKS.


Source: MSNBC Online

StudentWatch: Spotlight on Student Safety

Violence and bullying in schools knows no age limits. Recently, a 10-year-old boy from Lakewood, CO was arrested after bringing his BB gun to Stein Elementary School and firing at six of his classmates. According to the Huffington Post, the fourth grader snuck his BB gun into the school and brought it out in class when his teacher looked away. He was arrested and booked on municipal assault and dangerous missile charges. The 10-year-old will also face automatic expulsion for bringing the gun to school. This is the second school shooting this year in Jefferson County. In February, a student shot and wounded two eighth-graders at Deer Creek Middle School in Littleton, CO.

Keeping students safe from acts of rage is not always easy, but being prepared for these random incidents is important.


Source: HUFFPOST Denver

Youth violence: When your child is the bully

Protecting a child from bullies can be a parent’s nightmare. Knowing a child is going to a school where he or she is verbally or physically abused is hard to think about, but what happens when your child is the school-yard bully? According to WKTV.com, the one red flag with bullies is that they are likely suffering themselves and are often being bullied by others. If your child's accused of being the bully, it is more important to address the situation than to focus on who is to blame. Parents should work with their children to help them understand what bullying is and how it feels to be on the receiving end of bullying to develop a sense of what it is like to be in someone else’s shoes.

PublicSchoolWORKS’ Student Bullying Reporting System provides 24/7 online and telephone systems for students and parents to report bullying incidents, with built-in communication tools that immediately notify school administrators. Has your child been caught bullying at school? How did you address the issue?

Source: WKTV Online

StudentWatch: Spotlight on Student Safety

Working with students in science labs can present safety issues and anxiety. Teachers are hopeful that all students and staff will take their safety and the safety of others seriously when conducting experiments and tests. A recent lab-related tragedy brings this to light - One student at Yale University in New Haven, CT who was known for taking proper safety precautions, was recently killed in a tragic accident when her long hair got caught in lab equipment. The student, Michele Dufault, who was majoring in astronomy and physics, was working alone after hours on her senior thesis when she was killed.

According to the New York Times, the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is investigating the incident and Yale University is reviewing their “safety policies and practices of laboratories, machine shops and other facilities with power equipment.” As a cautious student, Dufault had passed the University’s introductory to shop course, allowing her access to the lab, was enrolled in an advanced course on machine shop protocols and co-authored a 60-page document of safeguards for the NASA reduced-gravity experiment she assisted with last summer. Even with all of this knowledge, tragic accidents can still happen. Other schools can learn from this event and require students using potentially dangerous equipment to work in pairs, or follow other safety precautions.

Another tool schools can use to help prevent student accidents is PSW’s Student Accident Reporting & Management System. This system automates the management, notification, tracking and documentation of required accident management initiatives to reduce accidents and claims, while improving student play areas and building safety. Schools can use the system to track accident trends and provide retraining or change rules to make areas safer for students.

Source: The New York Times Online

Safety Thought: School Safety Policies

Albany Middle School in California is now using a “safe school ambassadors” program to keep the peace and build bridges among the school’s cliquey sixth through eighth grade students. According to the Albany Patch, 41 students who were considered influential to various cliques and social groups were selected to receive training in an effort to get rid of the bullying. Throughout their training, students learned how to talk, care and stand up for each other, no matter their background or clique. The “safe school ambassadors” have been given the tools to diffuse bullying, while being empowered to stand up and intervene when someone is being mistreated. The “safe school ambassadors” program is now being used in 900 schools around the country.

Knowing students have the power to influence each other, do you think a “safe school ambassadors” program would work well at your school? How have your students worked together to put an end to bullying at your school?

Source: Albany Patch

Youth violence: Victims who strike back

When victims of bullying have come to a breaking point and have finally had enough of the taunting and abuse, the situation often does not end well. Recently a video from an Australian school, where 7th grader Ritchard Gale bullied 10th grader Casey Heynes one too many times, went viral. The video, taken by another student, shows Gale taunting then punching Heynes multiple times. Once Heynes had enough, he fought back, eventually picking up Gale and slamming him on the ground. According to WXYZ, Gale was suspended from school for 21 days while Heynes was suspended for four days.

Why did it have to take a physical reaction from Heynes to stop the bullying? Do you agree with the punishment given to both of the students involved? What does your school do to punish the bullies, as well as the victims who react? Did this video teach a lesson to all of the bullies and bullied students who watched it?

Source: WXYZ.com

StudentWatch: Students Bullying Teachers

Student behavior at three schools in Bakersfield City School District (BCSD) in California has left many teachers anxious and afraid to go to work. Teachers say the student behavior at Curran Middle School, Walter Stiern Middle School and McKinley Elementary School is out of control and students are not being punished properly. The students are now bullying the teachers. At these schools, teachers are experiencing physical and verbal abuse such as shoving, slapping and yelling.

Many teachers suspect the district‘s goal to decrease suspensions is the reason students are not being properly punished. They believe the district is trying to prevent losing the funding that schools get for having students in class each day. According to Bakersfield.com, the BCSD Superintendent Michael Lingo said the district will put Curran, Stiern and McKinley “under a microscope” and he asked for a task force to be formed to study district discipline policies and issues.

With PublicSchoolWORKS’ Student Behavior Management System, BCSD could put their disciplining issues behind them. The system manages student discipline and other behavior data. It ensures that all staff and administrators maintain consistency in addressing student behaviors in compliance with board policies and federal, state and local regulations.

Source: Bakersfield.com

School Bookkeeper Charged with Fraud

Fraudulent activities committed by employees are a financial drain on a school system and can go unnoticed for quite some time. Without an online fraud reporting system, employees who notice fraud may have an uncomfortable time reporting it. A former Detroit Public Schools bookkeeper, Allen Swayze, was indicted in December by a federal grand jury on charges of fraudulently obtaining money from the district. United States Attorney, Barbara L. McQuade, said while employed at Breithaupt Career and Technical Center, Swayze issued $148,000 in fraudulent checks to himself and his company, Swayze Management Industries, between August 2006 and May 2009. If convicted, Swayze faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

PublicSchoolWORKS Fraud Reporting System, which is a part of its EmployeeSafe Suite, provides school staff with the ability to file anonymous reports, complaints or suspicious activity. This helps schools address behavior that could otherwise go undetected for long periods of time before ever being investigated. Has your school or district been a victim of employee fraud? Share your stories with us on Twitter @PSWORKS.

To learn more about the Fraud Reporting System, contact PublicSchoolWORKS at 513-631-6111 or via email at sales@publicschoolworks.com.

Source: ClickonDetroit.com December 9, 2010
http://www.clickondetroit.com/education/26079256/detail.html