Alternative Education, Police Liaisons Part of Safe School Recommendations
Expanded alternative education programs, an increase in the use of police
liaisons in schools and targeted exemptions from revenue controls are
among the key recommendations issued Tuesday (September 7, 1999) by a
state task force on school safety.
 Michael Walsh |
The Wisconsin Safe Schools Task Force, appointed by Attorney General
James Doyle and State Superintendent John Benson, issued dozens of recommendations
aimed at preventing violent incidents from occurring in Wisconsin schools.
The task force, which included 20 educators and law enforcement officials,
was appointed in January, long before the tragedy at Columbine High School
in Littleton, Colorado, last spring.
Doyle and Benson emphasized that Wisconsin schools are safe but that
increased safety measures are needed to maintain and improve upon that
level of safety. The task force said the following five conditions must
exist for schools to be safe:
- Establish and maintain safe physical and emotional environments.
- Promote positive and caring relationships among students, staff, parents
and the community.
- Include character education and youth asset development as part of
the educational mission.
- Establish high expectations for behavior and develop accountability
measures to ensure standards are being met.
- Promote and provide alternative education and mental health services.
Specific recommendations were categorized into the areas of prevention,
intervention, crisis planning, resources and public policy.
One recommendation in the area of prevention is that a police school
liaison officer be available for every school in the state.
In the area of intervention, recommendations include establishment of
conflict resolution or peer mediation programs in every school. Others
include zero tolerance policies on bullying and harassment, and sharing
of student information among schools, law enforcement and human services
agencies.
Under crisis planning, the task force recommends development of school
safety plans and the training of law enforcement teams to respond to school-related
situations.
One of the key recommendations, in the category of resources, calls on
the Legislature to provide a revenue control exemption for costs related
to school safety programs.
Michael Walsh, a Stoughton teacher and member of the task force, said
revenue controls are a barrier to school safety.
“We heard very clearly in hearings around the state that revenue
controls are preventing districts from spending an adequate amount of
money on school safety,” Walsh said.
Another key recommendation in the area of resources is expansion of alternative
education opportunities for youth who are at risk of failing in the traditional
system. The task force urged the Legislature to increase funding for such
programs and urged educators to collaborate with community agencies to
develop these programs.
The task force also recommends expanding the Wisconsin Clearinghouse
for Prevention Resources to include safe schools material. This would
allow school districts and law enforcement agencies to share safe schools
ideas and materials over the Internet.
In the area of public policy, the panel recommends the state amend current
law to allow law enforcement greater access to student records.
The task force took a thoughtful, comprehensive approach to addressing
school safety issues, Walsh said. It involved representatives from law
enforcement and education, and held hearings throughout the state to solicit
broad community input.
“The task force put a big emphasis on developing strategies locally,”
Walsh said. “There is no ‘one size fits all’ approach to
school safety.”
Posted September 9, 1999