Dear Colleague

Chapter V

AVAILABLE SERVICES

UFT SCHOOL SAFETY DEPARTMENT

Among its duties, the department administers a computerized incident reporting system. Chapter leaders report incidents involving members by phone, fax or mail. The union shares this information with the Board. In addition, the union contacts each victim by phone, mail or in person in order to offer support and services. Direct services are provided through the Victim Support Program, a collaboration between the UFT and the Division of Human Resources at the Board. The services include:

Psychological counseling and support for individuals and staffs. In the aftermath of serious incidents, victims often feel substantial distress. This may include specific psychological difficulties such as emotional upset, sleep disturbance, heightened feeling of vulnerability and other problems.
While these reactions commonly occur and are considered "normal" responses to these kinds of violating events, they often cause intense disruption and concern. The Victim Support Program offers short-term individual and group counseling to individuals who require or request such assistance in the aftermath of incidents. Services are confidential and free of charge.
Practical information regarding Board procedures and requirements as well as procedures of the criminal justice system.
Accompaniment to the Board’s medical office and to courts.

The Victim Support Program also offers Violence Prevention Training including:

Six-hour workshops offered in each UFT borough office.
School presentations for chapters and faculties.

The UFT School Safety Department also provides crisis intervention following major incidents. This includes psychological counseling for staff to help staff deal with "ripple effect" trauma. Department representatives also provide technical assistance and school presentations about school safety and safety planning upon request by the chapter leader.

UFT HEALTH AND SAFETY COMMITTEE

While the mission of this committee concerns school environmental issues, it relates directly with several agencies that have an impact on physical safety such as:

The Board’s Division of School Facilities
The Board’s Office of Telecommunications.
School Construction Authority.

Broken doors, locks, intercom systems and public address systems are just some of the problems that can impact on individual safety. The chapter leader should contact his/her district representative to access the assistance of the Health and Safety Committee.

DIVISION OF SCHOOL SAFETY

More than 3,000 security officers are deployed in New York City public schools. Most are peace officers with arrest powers. In addition to the officers assigned to schools, there are Mobile Task Force units which respond to emergency situations.

Supervisors of school safety, who are UFT members, provide field oversight for safety operations in schools. They have also been trained in crisis intervention techniques and are a valuable resource during an emergency.

The Division of School Safety implements the Safe Schools Program. Weapon detection is the key to this program. There are several other components including identification card entry system and a computerized, electromagnetic exit door locking system.

The weapon detection system involves metal detectors for people and luggage scanners for bookbags and packages. Most schools use the hand–held scanners, and as a result only a portion of those entering the building are scanned. At this writing, the Chancellor has pledged to install walk–through systems like those at airports at 50 high schools. This system provides full weapons detection for all who enter and is superior to the hand–held program.

Most schools provide a separate entrance for staff so they do not have to be scanned. However, if they choose to use the student entrance, they may very well be scanned. The electromagnetic doorlocks are a technological attempt to secure doors other than those at the main entrance. If those other doors are not secure, the weapon detection program loses its effectiveness.

The computerized ID card entry system provides positive identification and takes attendance. Students are given a photo ID card that has been encoded like a credit card. They swipe it through a computerized terminal to gain access.

The executive director and central headquarters of the Department of School Safety are located at 600 East 6th St., New York, NY 10009, phone: (212) 979-3300. There are several field offices that coordinate safety services with their areas. Their phone numbers* are:


BOROUGH	NUMBER
MANHATTAN	(212) 666-1091
BRONX	(718) 409-3500
NORTH BROOKLYN	(718) 387-1107
SOUTH BROOKLYN	(718) 241-9700
NORTH QUEENS	(718) 699-5417
SOUTH QUEENS	(718) 949-6413
STATEN ISLAND	(718) 816-0681

*Note: These numbers are correct as of September 1998.

POLICE DEPARTMENT

The Police Department is a vital component of school safety. It is important that the school maintain close and good relations with the precinct commander, the community relations officer, the youth officer and the officers in whose sector the school is located.

The crime prevention officers and youth officers assigned to the precinct can be valuable resources. The Board mandates regular meetings between principals and precinct commanders. Each precinct also has a monthly community council meeting. Staff members should feel free to attend these meetings and discuss their problems.

If UFT members in a particular school feel that problems are not being resolved, they may call their district representative, who also maintains liaison with local police officials.

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