MSD Policies
Safety
100.1 School Safety
The Board recognizes that effective learning and teaching takes place in a safe, secure and welcoming environment and that safe schools contribute to improved attendance, increased student achievement and community support. The practice of safety shall be considered a facet of the instructional programming of the District schools by incorporating concepts of safety appropriately geared to students at different grade levels.
The Superintendent shall be responsible for developing and maintaining a comprehensive safety plan for the District, taking into account applicable laws, regulations, Board policies, and best practices. The general safety plan will include the District-wide Crisis Prevention and Response Plan, and site-specific Emergency Response Plan for each school required under Board policy EBCA (Safety 100). General areas of emphasis shall include, but not be limited to: in-service training; accident recordkeeping; plant inspection; driver and vehicle safety programs; fire prevention; catastrophe planning; and emergency procedures and traffic safety problems relevant to students and employees.
Each Principal and/or his/her designee shall be responsible for the supervision and implementation of safety programs in his/her school, inclusive of school busses, school grounds (including playgrounds), during authorized school activities (such as field trips), within school building(s) (including classrooms and laboratories), off school grounds during school sanctioned activities (including, but not limited to, work-based learning and internships), and in the use of online resources. The safety plan will be on file in each district building and in the SAU office.
The practice of safety shall also be considered a facet of the instructional plan of the District schools by incorporating educational programs in traffic and pedestrian safety, driver and vehicle safety programs, fire prevention, emergency procedures, and others, appropriately geared to students at different grade levels. All teachers shall be required to know and implement the appropriate safety practices and procedures applicable to their assigned areas of responsibility.
The Board directs the Superintendent to develop a safe schools plan consistent with applicable law and school board policies. While the plan need not be a single consolidated document, it should include:
Procedures that address the supervision and security of school buildings and grounds.
Procedures that address the safety and supervision of students during school hours and school-sponsored activities.
Procedures that address persons visiting school buildings and attending school-sponsored activities.
Training programs for staff and students in crisis prevention and management.
Training programs for staff and students in emergency response procedures that include practice fire and all hazard drills as required by law and Board policy EBCB (Safety 104).
Training programs for staff and students in how to recognize and respond to behavior or other information that may indicate impending violence or other safety problems.
Procedures and training to implement employee and work-place safety per Board policy Students 100(EB).
Training and support for students that aims to relieve the fear, embarrassment and peer pressure associated with reporting behavior that may indicate impending violence or other safety problems.
Procedures for safe, confidential reporting of security and safety concerns at each school building.
Procedures for regular assessments by school security/safety professionals and law enforcement officers to evaluate the security needs of each school building and to provide recommendations for improvements if necessary.
Procedures for periodic assessments by school climate professionals to determine whether students feel safe and to provide recommendations for improvements in school climate at each district building.
Procedures for managing the behavior of children, including, proper training and protocols relative to restraint and seclusions consistent with RSA 126-U and Board policy JKAA (Students 116.2).
Procedures to provide for regular communications between district officials, law enforcement officers, fire department officials, city and county officials and local medical personnel to discuss crisis prevention and management strategies, including involvement by these parties in the development and revision of the District Crisis Prevention and Response Plan, and site-specific Emergency Response Plans per Board policy EBCA (Safety 103).
Training programs for staff and students in safety precautions and procedures related to fire prevention, natural disaster response, accident prevention, public health, traffic, bicycle and pedestrian safety, environmental hazards, civil defense, classroom and occupational safety, and special hazards associated with athletics and other extracurricular activities.
District and building level procedures to assure timely safe schools reporting to law enforcement the N.H. Department. of Education and the School Board as required under RSA 193-D:4.
Legal References:
RSA 193-D, Safe School Zones
RSA 193-F, Pupil Safety and Violence Prevention
SA 281-A:64, Safety Provisions
N.H. Dept. of Education Administrative Rule - Ed. 306.04(a)(2), and 306.04(d), Promoting School Safety
District Policy History:
First reading (Policy Committee): 2/9/21
Second reading and BOSC Adoption: 3/8/21
District revision history: New Policy in February 2021, split from Safety 100 (EB).