Update for 5326

I have had extensive help with my research project concerning school safety and we have made several new changes as a result of this research. We have added a new door entry system that requires visitors to be buzzed into the building. We have completely revamped our emergency disaster plans to update them for tornado and fire exit strategies. We have even held several personnel meetings discussing the various safety strategies as well as the updated emergency exit procedures. Additionally, we have replaced all of the interior safety cameras in the hallways for monitoring. As a district we have initiated several meetings to coordinate with city and county emergency services for to coordinate immediate response. Overall as a whole I feel there has been tremendous progress in making our school a safer environment. The district has taken this issue very seriously in trying to make the campus as safe as possible for students and faculty. The cooperation between the district and emergency officials has been a tremendous asset in developing coordinating plans of response. There is still work to be done, but I feel we have made some big steps in the right direction.

Updated Action Project

After going through the reading and comparing to the cell phone example as well as the eight steps I found that my plan was lacking in two main areas. The first revision I made was to allow for more literature research. I was reflecting back to the videos we had last week and they all had a similar point, “don’t reinvent the wheel.” Basically find out what other schools have done and see if their processes can apply for my district. By researching other school safety policies it will give me some ideas on any new policies we may need or any revisions that need to be made. The second revision I made was to allow for more personal reflection. The main source for this reflection as well as updates for this action project will be my educational blog.

Below is my updated action research project.

Action Planning Template
Goal: To provide a learning environment that is safe and effective for students, teachers, and staff as well as reducing the volume of discipline actions that involve students missing class.
Action Steps(s):	Person(s) Responsible:	Timeline: Start/End	Needed Resources	Evaluation
Review the vulnerability assessment and target areas for improving school safety and security.	Steven Livingston Bill Wiggins – Supt. Larry Green - Principal	At least once before end of Spring semester 2013 and once during fall semester 2013	ESC document	Review of improvements made
Work with county / city officials to revise the emergency operations plan to insure coordination of services in case of an emergency.	Steven Livingston Bill Wiggins –Supt. Larry Green  - Principal	Annual Meetings Summer 2013	First responders	Updated plan and mapped facilities
Literature review on school safety practices	Steven Livingston	April – July 2013	Lamar Online Library Internet Input from PSP CISD Admin	Review resources and literature provide information for safety management procedures for public schools
Practice safety drills – evacuation, reverse evacuation, shelter in place (drop, cover and hold), lockdown and bus evacuation.	Steven Livingston Larry Green – Principal	Each drill at least twice annually	Emergency Operations Plan – Crisis Plan Charts Stopwatch	Documentation of drills practiced As well as timing of the drills
All professional and para-professionals will receive training in district policies, Student Code of Conduct, conflict resolution and classroom management.	Larry Green – Principal	August 2013	Staff	Discipline referrals
Review effectiveness of lunch detention policy	Steven Livingston Larry Green - Principal	August 2012 – May 2013		Discipline Referrals. Time in class.
To ensure safety of students, adequate supervision of students will be provided during class, before and after school, during lunch, during passing periods, and during physical education and offseason classes.	Steven Livingston Larry Green – Principal Other assigned Staff members	Staff assigned beginning of school year 2013	Staff assignments	Number and types of discipline referrals will be reviewed each six weeks for effectiveness.
Maintain safety by controlling access to buildings by keeping designated doors locked and requiring visitors to check in and wear visitor badges.	Steven Livingston Larry Green –Principal Greg Drennan – Maintenance Director	Review procedures at least once each semester	Visitor passes and log sheets in offices	Periodic random check of doors and visitor logs
Install, repair and maintain cameras through-out the district that are networked and recorded to 3 DVRs.	Steven Livingston Larry Green – Principal Chris Ellision – Technology Asst.	Summer 2013	Local Funds	Discipline referrals
Revisit my action research plan and post on my educational blog for continual improvement and ideas	Steven Livingston	Constantly throughout the whole process	Educational blog	Review comments and feedback from site supervisor, colleagues and other stakeholders

Action Research Plan

I think this is the format for which our research plan should be posted. If its not hopefully its close enough that everyone understands what will be going on.

Action Planning Template
Goal: To provide a learning environment that is safe and effective for students, teachers, and staff as well as reducing the volume of discipline actions that involve students missing class.
Action Steps(s):	Person(s) Responsible:	Timeline: Start/End	Needed Resources	Evaluation
Review the vulnerability assessment and target areas for improving school safety and security.	Steven Livingston Bill Wiggins – Supt. Larry Green - Principal	At least once before end of Spring semester 2013 and once during fall semester 2013	ESC document	Review of improvements made
Work with county / city officials to revise the emergency operations plan to insure coordination of services in case of an emergency.	Steven Livingston Bill Wiggins –Supt. Larry Green  - Principal	Annual Meetings	First responder	Updated plan and mapped facilities
Practice safety drills – evacuation, reverse evacuation, shelter in place (drop, cover and hold), lockdown and bus evacuation.	Steven Livingston Larry Green – Principal	Each drill at least twice annually	Emergency Operations Plan – Crisis Plan Charts	Documentation of drills practiced
All professional and para-professionals will receive training in district policies, Student Code of Conduct, conflict resolution and classroom management.	Larry Green – Principal	August 2013	Staff	Discipline referrals
Review effectiveness of lunch detention policy	Steven Livingston Larry Green - Principal	August 2012 – May 2013		Discipline Referrals. Time in class.
To ensure safety of students, adequate supervision of students will be provided during class, before and after school, during lunch, during passing periods, and during physical education and offseason classes.	Steven Livingston Larry Green – Principal Other assigned Staff members	Staff assigned beginning of school year 2013	Staff assignments	Number and types of discipline referrals will be reviewed each six weeks for effectiveness.
Maintain safety by controlling access to buildings by keeping designated doors locked and requiring visitors to check in and wear visitor badges.	Steven Livingston Larry Green –Principal Greg Drennan – Maintenance Director	Review procedures at least once each semester	Visitor passes and log sheets in offices	Periodic random check of doors and visitor logs
Install, repair and maintain cameras through-out the district that are networked and recorded to 3 DVRs.	Steven Livingston Larry Green – Principal Chris Ellision – Technology Asst.	Summer 2013	Local Funds	Discipline referrals

Action Research Topic

After a lengthy discussion with my site supervisor, we finally narrowed down a topic that we both feel is very essential and necessary to our school district. Even though we are a small school, in a small town, we still are not too small for something as tragic as what took place in Sandy Hook to happen. Therefore my research will address the following (hopefully):

What are some safety management plans we could implement in our school, and in what ways are they effective for increasing student safety, increasing teacher/staff safety, and decreasing the ability of an intruder to cause harm to students, teachers and staff?

I feel this is a needed topic for our district but am still struggling with the scope and the data needed to address this concern. If you have any ideas or suggestions please feel free to pass them along.

Week Two Summary...So Far...

I guess the best way for me to describe what I have learned about action research so far is...I'M CONFUSED!!!! Lets start with just research in general. To me if someone wanted to find out more on a subject or why certain process are struggling the intelligent and natural thing to do would be to investigate or "research" into that subject or process and look at the data to develop a better understanding of the current outcomes. #SARCASM

However, apparently there is a difference between research and educational research. And there is also a difference between educational research and action research. I guess whatever the difference is between all of these "types" of research is above my intelligence because I think and have always thought that is what research is. So far I just have not seen what the "major discovery" is in regards to action research. I hope that throughout the remainder of this course some things will start to make sense but as of now there isn't much. The only thing that I have seen any different is action research is being called such because it is completed by someone within the organization as opposed to an outside person that has nothing to do with normal day to day operations doing the research. If that is the only thing that is different, consider me disappointed.

Blogs in Education

Educators could take advantage of using blogs for outside the classroom interaction between students for research, assignments, and other projects. The can be used as tools for a continuous update for parents and students of current assignments and activities. They could also simply be a way to communicate for important messages or announcements for the class.

Action Research

Action research is an effective tool an individual can use to better understand as well as evaluate a specific process or topic. Unlike general research that typically deals with topics outside the realm of the practitioner, action research generally has a direct affect on the practitioner. Action research can be used to improve curriculum, develop and support personal, provide or restructure school policy, and even as professional development. This type of research is not limited to those that are indirectly involved; rather it is encourage to be completed by those more directly involved including: teachers, counselors, principals and even superintendents. The basis of the research is grounded by two primary fundamentals: data collection and personal reflection. Action research needs some type of empirical data to provide a foundation for change to start as well as constant personal reflection. The reflection provides a deeper understanding of the process and creates a more personal attachment to the practitioner which increases the chances of success for the research.