School Safety & Security Interview Questions for Chief Sturgis

March 3, 2016

1. What are the most critical safety procedures to have in place in our
schools today?
a. Should these be district-wide protocols for consistency? Yes
Communication on protocols and procedures
Training for all staff
Written procedures and protocols
Layers of defense in physical set-up of building
Staff ID badges
Windows and doors to not provide free range access to students
2. When you walk into a building how do you know it is safe?
Clearly understood that you know how to get where you need to go (proper
signage)
Locked access to where students are during the day
Cant just walk into the building - have to be buzzed in
During common traffic flow times (such as bussing), be sure someone is
designated to who is coming in the building and directing them to where they
need to be v. total access to building at this time.
If someone comes in who staff are not familiar with, ID is checked
Helpful to have a common space for students for bussing that is behind locked
access from front door so that visitors need to check in to get to the students.
3.

What are indicators of an unsafe space for students?

Controlled, assigned person to check visitors in
Layer defence (layers of secured entry points)
Control access to our critical assets (our students)
Traffic patterns - cars entering parking lot and students exiting building

4. What small steps are principals able to take to ensure the safety of the
students?
If you have policies and procedures in place, be sure they are enforced.
Mindsets that each staff member knows their responsibility within each protocol
and adheres.
Get staff feedback on these procedures so you have commitment so that
enforcing is not an issue.

5. In your opinion, how is crisis best handled by administration?

Go through the What if questions so we are prepared to handle as many

situations as possible.
Partner with Police and Fire/Safety to get feedback on crisis procedures as well as
common understanding of when to call these partners and what steps will be
taken when they respond.

6. How do you feel about locked classroom doors?

Opposing safety issues
Ability for principal to see into classroom and enter
Keeping students safe from and unseen by intruders
Option - pre-cut piece of foam of a particular color that can quickly be inserted in
window that staff know is safety from intruder
7. What are some successful community partnerships between schools & local
law enforcement youve created/experienced?
Shop with a Cop
Counteract or DARE
SRO - School Resource Officer
Promote only positive messaging with Police Officers
Special Needs field trip from school to Police Station
Connecting training for staff so they know:
What to do in certain situations
Who to call and when
8. From a law enforcement perspective, how would you recommend responding
to allegations that a student has a weapon? Drugs?
Drugs
Talk to student, Search (Follow district policy if drugs are found)
Weapon
Are you trained to deal with a kid who has a weapon? Is the weapon in
hand? Or alleged to be in a locker, backpack?
Administrators can search lockers and student property without a warrant police cannot
Utilize SRO (If building has one) and call the police
Stay one step ahead of the student (Know their schedule and where they
are headed in the building)
9. How should we as principals respond should we suspect a parent shows up
to pick up their child and is under the influence of alcohol/drugs?
Can call police - let the person go about what they are doing - do not try to stop
them. Keep police alerted to the persons whereabouts. Stall the person as long
as possible.

10. What if non-custodial parents attempts to pick up a child and an unknowing

staff member releases the student to this parent?
Call police - refer to record at school to provide context
Call parent
Legal issues will always trump school policies. (i.e. Mandated Reporting)