Security in the Schools

Sep 1, 1998 3:55 PM

Chapter II LOCATIONS

Each location within the school presents a distinct set of problems. The physical areas to be concerned about are classrooms, hallways, stairwells, and large group areas such as auditoriums and lunchrooms.

CLASSROOMS

Teachers are responsible for maintaining pupil health and safety in their classrooms. You and your students are potentially vulnerable to various threats there, including:

— Student fights.
— Student assaults.
— Angry parents.
— Intruders.

Here are some tips from the UFT’s Violence Prevention Training Program:

• Closely observe entering students for signs of hostility and aggression.
• Don’t get between fighting students. If possible, use non-violent techniques to break up fights. This will reduce the likelihood of injury to students and yourself.
• Summon assistance as quickly as possible. Intercom phone systems should have a school equivalent of 911. As a backup, have a crisis pass with a room number on it. Every staff member knows this means "EMER-GENCY—SEND HELP."

Be polite when dealing with angry parents who come to your classroom or office. Stand and move away from behind your desk. Ask them to return to the main office where you will join them for a conference. If they won’t leave, try to get them to sit down. If they are seated, they are less likely to strike out. Deal

with intruders cautiously since they present the most potential danger. Of course, you have the right to defend yourself, but if you are faced with the threat of a weapon, we advise you to avoid quick movements and to comply with the assailant’s demands.

Larceny, or theft, is the second highest category of crime reported by UFT members (after assault). As mentioned, one of the most frightening is robbery, or forcible theft. A simple rule: do not wear or bring valuables to school. Keep pocketbooks and coats under lock and key. The board will reimburse you for

up to $100 for stolen or destroyed property. However, being a less attractive target to the thief is the best policy.

LARGE GROUP AREAS

Similar routines and procedures should apply to large group areas such as auditoriums and cafeterias. The primary danger once again is that minor interactions can result in major incidents.

• Classes should have designated sections/seats.
• There should be an established pattern for entering and leaving.
• An adequate number of properly supervised safety personnel should be present.
• Auditorium programs should hold students’ interest.
• An emergency response plan should be in place in case of major disturbance.

CORRIDORS

Statistics show that many assaults against UFT members occur in hallways. Experience proves that corridors filled with hall-wanderers indicate that the school is out of control, and the cloak of anonymity often increases the chance of confrontation. A frequent scenario involves a staff member requesting identification from a pupil wandering in the hall.

Here are some ideas for safer halls:

• The school safety plan must address problems of hall control.
• All students should be required to carry and produce proper identification.
• Staff should be practiced in non-confrontational methods.
• A uniform pass system should be used for all students in the halls. Large durable hospital-type passes are recommended. There should be a limit on the number of students using the pass.

Aside from students, staff members sometimes encounter adult strangers in the halls. All schools are required to implement Special Circular #4—"Uniform Visitor Control Procedures."

If those procedures are followed properly, adult visitors should carry a color-coded pass specific to the floor they are visiting. It is everyone’s responsibility to see that strangers without passes are not allowed to wander the halls. Here’s how:

• The school safety plan must contain intruder alert procedures.
• Staff members should use non-confrontational techniques when querying unidentified strangers. "May I help you?" is a good approach, rather than "What are you doing here?"
• The presence of strangers in halls must be reported to the office.

OTHER AREAS

Stairwells can present problems in schools. Most older schools have up and down stairways in one well with landings that cannot be seen from the hallway door. The back stairway and platforms are favorite hangouts in secondary schools for students who are cutting classes, as well as for intruders. To complicate matters further, the lighting in stairwells is sometimes vandalized.

• Stairwells should be checked every period as part of routine security patrols.
• We advise staff members not to enter unlit stairwells.

Bathrooms for both staff and pupils present safety concerns, which every school safety plan should address. Student bathrooms can become hangouts, and are often sites of criminal acts. Staff bathrooms have also been the site of serious incidents.

• Lock staff lounges and bathrooms and give each staff member a key.
• Limit the use of room passes to the first or last 10 minutes of a period—or to times other than the first or last 10 minutes of the period.
• Lock certain student bathrooms, and/or post safety officers near the bathrooms that are used.

Elevators are becoming more common in schools. The school safety plan should detail use by students and staff.

• Student use must be controlled by an elevator pass system.
• Security staff should perform routine patrol.
• Ensure that emergency communication devices—both voice and signal—are in operating order.
• Staff members should not enter elevators that appear to be unsafe due to overcrowding or unruly behavior.

Annexes and other sites that are not physically part of the main building should not be neglected in school safety plans.

• Each site must implement the visitor control procedures mandated by Special Circular #4—"Uniform Visitor Control Procedures."
• There should be intercom or radio communication with the main building.
• The UFT believes schools with annexes should be given priority in the assignment of additional school safety officers.
• Although the UFT believes that only school safety officers should be assigned to screen visitors, other persons (including parent volunteers) who perform these duties should be responsible for implementing the visitor control procedures.
• If there is no monitored visitor entrance to an annex, lock the door and install a doorbell.

THE STREETS

Cars: Vandalism and theft of members’ cars is a growing problem. The local police cannot provide coverage for the entire school day. We advise you to equip your car with anti-theft devices such as an alarm and locks for steering wheel, ignition and hood. While no security system is foolproof, these devices have value. Some school staffs have hired a guard to watch their cars. For a staff of 50 or more, this is not an expensive proposition. If you decide on this course of action, we advise that you consult several bona fide security firms.

Students’ Safety To and From School: Encourage students to walk or use public transportation in groups. Warn them against wearing expensive jewelry or clothing that will make them targets. Together with the Division of School Safety, local precincts, planning boards, and civic, block and parent associations, arrange for "safe corridors" through the community.

The Herd Instinct: You are most vulnerable when you are alone. Our parting advice is that there is safety in numbers: arrange to be with colleagues when you come to school, during lunch and preps and when you leave.