Carol A.

Swanson
Hamline University
Competency 13 Safety and Security

13. Safety & Security

a. Demonstrate the ability to develop and implement policies and procedures for safety and
security
b. Ability to formulate safety and security plans to implement security procedures established by
law, law enforcement assistance, and communication with the public and evacuation procedures
c. Demonstrate the ability to identify areas of vulnerability associate with school busses, building
and grounds and formulate a plan to take corrective actions
d. Demonstrate an understanding of procedural predictabilities and plan variants where possible
e. Demonstrate the ability to develop plans that connect every student with a school adult,
eliminate bullying and profiling and implement recommended threat assessment procedures

Safety and Security is such an important competency for principals. The most important

job of a school is to keep students safe, and I am not sure that all principals or district leaders see

it this way. In the current climate of the nation, and horrific school shootings, it is imperative for

schools to have the best in secure and safe buildings. Having worked in several districts, I have

noticed that safety and security in districts and schools in Minnesota can vary in extremes. Some

schools/districts have very tight security, such as requiring a photo identification before entry, to

the other extreme- an open door with no one in the front to greet visitors allowing anyone to

walk in unimpeded. It is alarming to walk into the school with lose security. It does not feel safe

to walk into a school with no adult to welcome me and to assess whether I have the right to be at

the school.

I had the opportunity to interview Mr. Bob Olson, Director of Facilities and Infrastructure

from Owatonna Public Schools to work on my Safety and Security competency. This was an

extremely timely interview as the Owatonna Public Schools successfully acquired a positive

bond referendum vote for $77.9 million in November 2015, specifically geared to Owatonna
Carol A. Swanson
Hamline University
Competency 13 Safety and Security

Public Schools safety and security. In the spring of 2014, the Owatonna School Boards Facility

Committee began meeting to address the need to conduct a facility review of school buildings. A

task force was formed to identify pressing needs of the safety and security of the district. The

task force identified elementary crowding, deferred maintenance and school security as the

pressing needs, as well as the aging high school needing to be addressed at a future time. After

numerous school board open sessions, board unanimously approved the November 3rd ballet

initiative. Mr. Olson explained that through the funding of the bond referendum, there will be

three phases for the process of updating the buildings. Phase1 will be the reconfiguration of

front offices in all elementary buildings to make sure they are secure. Phase 2 will include

additions to Willow Creek Intermediate School and Owatonna Junior High School. Phase 3 will

add air conditioning to all schools to be complete by fall of 2017.

This interview was a great precursor to my work at Jefferson Elementary in my Field 1

experience, I was able to attend a meeting of district and school staff who represent a committee

to update Faribaults security to all elementary buildings. This work will also be dependent on a

successful bond referendum for the fall of 2017. There are many complexities to full safety and

security for schools. There is a greater sense of urgency for schools to become more safe and

secure and these experiences have helped me to understand it better.