1. Is this a Plan or just Information?
2. School Violence in the News
3. School Site Safety Survey
4. Tools of  Terrorism
5. Learn how to become an Associate 
6. Tips for Students: Be a friend, gain a friend.
7. NEW Partnership, NEW Products
8. Alternative Learning Environments (ALE)

9. Tips for Parents: Communication with Children  
10. One liner
11. Tip for Teachers: Pt 5; Eliminating severe behaviors
12. Up Coming Training Opportunities
13. Homeland Security Site of the Week
14. What Others Say About Keys
15. Co-sponsor A Training In Your Area
16. Keys Now Accepts Checks On-line  -  NEW!
17. And more links....

1. Information is good, a plan is better.

Keys has been challenged with the question: "Why should anyone pay for a Crisis Plan when you can get them for free from state and federal agencies?" The answer is quite simple, Keys provides your school district a comprehensive, integrated plan that is tailored to your needs, vulnerabilities and available resources. Many times the "free" material that is available is excellent information from which you can build your own plan. Unless you are or have in your employment an expert in the fields of safety and counter-terrorism, you can expect to spend a great deal of time possibly spinning your wheels. Keys has the expertise. With a minimum of time invested by your personnel, Keys will produce a finished, dynamic product that is tailored and will provide for the safety of your students and staff--while they remain focused on education. If it appears to you that "free" may be too costly for your school district, contact Keys today and visit our website at:

https://keystosaferschools.com/crisis_planning_process.htm

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2. School Violence in the News

Since our November Safety Bulletin, a 14 year old Special Ed student was signed out of school by an 18 year old who spent the afternoon having sex with her. A student was gunned down at an alternative school in Toronto, Canada. A senior in Oklahoma City was shot in the face during a fight that most of the other students knew was going to happen. A volunteer coach was shot at high school football game in Carbondale. An Oklahoma student stopped the bullying by killing his antagonist with a kitchen knife on the school bus. We are in the midst of Flu epidemic that has claimed 11 young lives and the nation has rallied with calls for vaccine. At the same time, school violence has claimed over 25 lives in about 50 separate incidents with little notice. You can make a difference!

 

To see a collective list of some 40+ events of violence in and around our schools since August 2003, go to this link: https://keystosaferschools.com/violence03.htm This list is not complete because other events crowd such stories out of the news spotlight. If you know of a violent incident that impacted a school, write to Keys and include a news source if possible: Keys@KeysToSaferSchools.com.

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3. School Site Safety Survey

I stood in the darkness, alone in the school. The cafeteria was easier than getting into the school. Pantries, coolers and freezers were unsecured. All that food, waiting to be served tomorrow. It would be so easy to add my own little secret ingredients to their meal. Except, I was there by contract to test the security system and vulnerability to a terrorist intrusion or even a prankster. I placed a calling card on the serving line and exited. The biggest disappointment of the evening was that once again, I was not arrested. I was seen by several neighbors and even two school employees, but no one thought to ask me what I was doing or to call the police. 

The Key to securing your school is by 1. Watching for your Vulnerabilities  2. Attacking them (testing them through drills or Safety Surveys) 3. Learning how to then Protect those Vulnerabilities you identified.

 

Is your school any different? Do you have the simplest passive measures in-place to stop the unauthorized entry into your school by person's unknown? If you are not sure, or you need verification of your security measures, contact Keys to arrange a Site Safety Survey of your facility.

 

To learn more about this program, go to:
https://keystosaferschools.com/WorkshopsPg2.htm#SCHOOL_SAFETY_SITE_ASSESSMENT

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Clostridium botulinum.  Us Health Providers report about 110 cases of Botulism annually and about 30 outbreaks. Botulism is caused by a toxin released by the clostridium botulinum bacteria. Usually it is found in improperly prepared home canned products. However, it has appeared in outbreak cases involving chili peppers and baked potatoes in aluminum foil. The toxin requires 18 to 36 hours to become concentrated to the point of showing symptoms which are drooping eyelids, slurred speech, double vision, dry mouth and weak muscles. If caught early it can be controlled but still requires weeks of recovery. Left without treatment it causes paralysis and death. Several rogue states are know to have produced weapons grade level of this bacteria and have aerosolized it making it even more deadly. Defense against this biological agent is cleaning and cooking.

• Cleaning the preparation area to include hands and utensils with an approved disinfectant and,

• cooking foods thoroughly (even precooked, sealed foods) eliminates this bacteria. Baked potatoes should be kept in the foil wrapper and warmed until served.

Click here to learn about previously discussed Tools of Terrorism: Ricin, Salmonella, Human feces

What would your school do if confronted with a terrorist attack using bio/chemical weapons? Keys To Safer Schools.com has developed a guide and a training program to provide schools with measures that can be implemented within budget and community restraints. To learn more about the risk our schools face as Soft-Targets click here.

We know that you entered this career field or have volunteered because you want to help kids and make a difference in your community. That is the same motivation which has brought Keys to this point as well. By joining together as Associates, we will be able to bring light to this crucial issue. If you would like to become a part of the Keys team, and possible earn a little also, go to the link below and fill out the form. We will be in touch and help you through the process.

https://keystosaferschools.com/JoinOurTeam.htm

Many times, children do not want your advice or opinion. They want to tell their story. Learn to listen and offer only, "Wow!" or "That sounds like fun" or "tell me more." As they realize that you are giving them attention, they are more likely to tell you more of what really is happening in their world. Too often we as parents are eager to jump ahead of our children and start giving them advice or instruction. Try this waiting and listening technique to see if you can learn more while building a deeper relationship with your child. Keys saying for the art of communication is: Listen, listen, listen....then understand.

"Watch your thoughts for they become words;
watch your words for they become actions;
watch your actions for they become habits;
watch your habits for they become character;
watch your character for it becomes your destiny"

"How do I stop the behaviors that Johnny is exhibiting over and over in class?"  We will take this topic and do a mini-series on it for a six month period.  This is month three of the series.  You may refer to past E-News' to learn about  Extinction, Time-out, Satiation & Punishment.  If you need help faster, there are two trainings that help in this area; Behavioral Modification Planning and Alternative Learning Environment a Level System (this training comes with forms, polices, a complete Level System so you can hit the ground running and more...). 

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Recap: There are 6 basic ways to decrease or eliminate severe behaviors.  They are (1) Extinction, (2) Time-out, (3) Satiation, (4) Punishment, (5) Reinforcement of incompatible behaviors, and (6) Desensitization.  Let's briefly deal with Reinforcement of incompatible behaviors.

Reinforcement of incompatible behaviors - At times it is necessary or desirable to decrease a behavior by systematically reinforcing a behavior that is in opposition to or incompatible with it. ex. two students are continually bickering.  After looking at the situation you believe that moving them to different sides of the room will solve the problem.  See, you have utilized this method and did not even know it.  The method states that distance between students is incompatible with bickering.  The true effectiveness of this intervention is heavily dependent on the selection of the two truly incompatible behaviors (sitting apart and bickering).

This is one that I have worked with teachers all across the county on...  To Chase or Not to Chase?? What to do if a child is running from the teacher.  Many teachers chase students.  Research shows a decline in the number of incidents as the student's age increases.  Why, you may ask?  Is it that as the child gets older they become more equipped to handling what every the consequence the teacher has in store?  Or is it that teachers believe older children have a greater ability to care for themselves and therefore feel less responsible for their well being and in turn, do not chase after the older children as much as the younger ones?  Although, teachers should understand that chasing a running child reinforces that behavior.  Teachers must see that to utilize this technique they must reinforce an incompatible behavior and that being "NOT CHASING" the child.

Having trouble and need some help - Contact Keys Experts for advice

12.  Training Opportunities

Mark these on your calendar and register today or call or email to set up a training at your school or in your community.

• Monticello, AR - Development of a Bio-Chemical Terrorist Attack Contingency Plan for schools, Dec 10-11,2003 

• Cabot, AR - Development of a Bio-Chemical Terrorist Attack Contingency Plan (Act 648), Dec 12,2003

• Bakersfield, CA - Schools, Terrorism and Homeland Security, Jan 26, 2004

• Huntington Beach, CA -  Assessing the Potentially Dangerous Student (PDS) Jan 28, 2004

• England, AR - Crisis Action Training & Workshop, Jan 21-22, 2004

• Osage Beach, MO  - Key Note Speakers for 16th Annual SEMA/MEPA Conference on Crisis Preparedness, April 11-14, 2004

• and more...  check our Calendar of Events page

Schedule or Co-Sponsor a training for you School or Community--email or call (800)504-7355

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13.  Homeland Security Site of the Week

Keys To Safer Schools.com was selected by the Homeland Security Newsletter as the recommended Site of the Week for the week of July 4, 2003. With over 1000 pages of information, our website continues to grow to meet the needs of today's schools, students, staff, administration and parents. Your searching, reading and recommending our website have led to this honor and we wish to express our thanks for the many kind words of praise that our readers have said of us. We pledge to continue to strive to meet your needs and offer only the best of practical solutions. 

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