New York Districts Fail to Meet State Requirements for District Safety Plans

New York Districts Fail to Meet State Requirements for District Safety Plans

Some school districts in New York failed to meet minimum state requirements for district safety plans. The districts must now revise their safety plans.

At least 17 school districts in New York failed to meet the minimum state requirements for district safety plans, according to a new report from the state Comptroller’s Office.

According to The Daily Gazette, the main reasons many of the districts did not pass included the process of developing the plan, providing for public comments and having the school board annually adopt the plan, but some districts failed to provide staff with required training and include all necessary positions on district safety teams.

“New York’s schools must be better prepared for emergencies and violent incidents,” Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli said in a statement with the audit’s release. “We found too many schools had gaps in their safety plans that could leave them unprepared if a shooting or life-threatening incident occurred.”

The Schenectady district will update their safety plan and address the areas identified in the comptroller’s report. The updated safety plan, which has not yet been approved, has references to partnering with the city Police and Fire departments. The updated plan will put a large emphasis on prevention and intervention, and trying to remedy problems before they become dangerous issues.

“The Schenectady City School District recognizes the importance of programs and activities that improve communication throughout the school community and that encourage reporting of potentially dangerous, suspicious or violent behavior,” according to the district safety plan.

Fewer than half the districts examined designated a chief emergency office, defined the duties of school safety positions, outlined strategies for improving communications among students and staff or detailed certain training requirements, according to auditors in the Comptroller’s Office.

Karen Corona, the Schenectady district spokeswoman, said that not all of the districts had the same issues, but many of them had at least one issue, which means they could help each other understand the safety requirements.

About the Author

Kaitlyn DeHaven is the Associate Content Editor for the Infrastructure Solutions Group at 1105 Media.

Featured

  • 2024 Gun Violence Report Fewer Overall Incidents but School Deaths and Injuries Are on the Rise

    Omnilert, provider of gun detection technology, today released its compilation of Gun Violence Statistics for 2024 summarizing gun violence tragedies and their adverse effects on Americans and the economy. Read Now

  • New Research Highlights Need for Improved Cybersecurity in Schools

    Keeper Security, a provider of zero-trust and zero-knowledge cybersecurity software protecting passwords, passkeys, privileged access, secrets and remote connections, recently released its latest report, Cybersecurity in Schools: Safeguarding Students in the Digital Era. This global study highlights the growing cybersecurity challenges that threaten educational institutions, based on a survey of 6,000 parents and students across Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Indonesia, Japan, France, the UK, US and DACH regions. Read Now

    • Communication
  • Shooting Likely a Combination of Factors

    Following the deaths of a teacher and student at Abundant Life Christian School in, Madison, Wisc., police chief Shon Barnes indicated that the motive appears to be a “combination of factors” for a 15-year-old female student’s attack on a study hall. Read Now

  • Two Killed During Shooting at Wisconsin Christian School

    Two people were killed and five injured during a shooting at the Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wis. on Monday. Read Now

Webinars