September, 2018
Dear Parent/Guardian:
As we pass midterm and our school buildings have all had their first safety drills, I'd like to again ask you to join our teachers, administrators and support staff in making school safety a combined family-school effort this year.
At Centerville City Schools, we take student safety seriously. After all, a school environment that is free of disruptive student behaviors and maximizes the opportunity for student learning is what we all want for our children. Current safety and security measures used in our schools include:
- Our school doors are locked and call boxes are used at front entrances for visitors to identify themselves and to notify the office of the reason for their visit. Visitors are required to check-in and obtain a visitor badge.
- Our schools continue to perform fire drills or rapid dismissals six times and safety drills at least three times each school year. During school safety drills, we continue to practice strategies of A.L.I.C.E. (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter and Evacuate). The philosophy is to use technology and information in a way that staff and students can make informed decisions in a crisis, remove as many people as possible from the danger zone, and provide realistic training so those involved in a crisis have a better chance of surviving.
- We have the Multi-Agency Radio Communication System (MARCS) in all of our school buildings.
- We collaborated with other districts in Montgomery County to contract with Social Sentinel to scan social media sites for key words that may lead to cause and concern for school safety.
- School resource officers continue to be used throughout the district. Centerville Police Officers Jim Stephenson and Brad Eshler and Montgomery County Deputy Sheriff Gary Fulwiler assist our staff, investigate serious matters, and if required, file charges against students who not only violate the school's rules and regulations but violate the law as well. This partnership and support we receive from the City and Township officials and the school resource officers are very much appreciated and valued.
How can you and your family help us with our safety efforts?
1) You can emphasize the behavior expectations our principals and teachers are sharing with all students, including these key points regarding school safety:
- Treat others as you yourself would like to be treated. This simple golden rule, if followed, would keep problems to a minimum.
- Weapons and look-alike weapons are prohibited at school, on school property or at school sponsored events.
- Fighting, threatening physical behavior, bullying and harassment are prohibited and will not be tolerated.
- Appropriate language will be expected at all times. I ask school staff to correct students who are using inappropriate language and to discipline them as well. How we speak to each other and interact with each other must be done respectfully. Each of us must be tolerant of one another and appreciate our uniqueness rather than put down and ridicule those who dress, talk or look different than us.
While we will continue to have zero tolerance for inappropriate behavior, this does not mean there will be mandatory punishments. When disciplinary action is required, the age and maturity of the child will be taken into consideration. Appropriate action will then be taken.
2) You can encourage your child to speak up. In most school-related tragedies, other students knew violent behavior was being discussed or planned.
Our students have been asked to inform a trusted adult about students who have weapons at school or are threatening violence to others or themselves. A student who thinks it, says it and/or writes about it is one small step from doing it. Please reinforce with your child the need to confide in a trusted adult when they become aware that another student is planning to hurt themselves or others.
One way to share this information would be to utilize the Safety Helpline, a 24-hour anonymous tip line that is accessed by phone or through a link on our district website. Once an anonymous message is received, school officials are contacted so a follow-up can occur.
The Safety Helpline can be reached toll free at 1-866-547-8362 or online through the district website: www.centerville.k12.oh.us
3) You can join us in our new initiative called "We Support Safe Communities." Many of the children who have committed acts of violence at schools were able to access weapons from their homes. As we continue to explore ways to keep our students safe, we are asking all community members to pledge to keep firearms secure and be aware of who can access them at all times.
To support community members in this endeavor, we have committed to providing free gun locks to help secure firearms. You can use the attached voucher to obtain a free gun lock at one of our community locations. More information is available online: www.cwgunlocks.com
By working together at home, in our schools and in our community, we can achieve the safe and orderly school environment we all desire. Please assist us by discussing the expectations we have established for your child's behavior at school and at school related events. Report behavior that seems to be suspicious or unusual to a school official or staff member. The old adage, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" certainly applies here. Information shared will be thoroughly investigated and may prevent students from hurting themselves and/or others.
Remember that school safety is everyone's business. Thank you for partnering with us to make your child's school a safe environment that maximizes the opportunity for learning.
Sincerely,
Tom Henderson, Ph.D.
Superintendent of Schools
