Minds come together to improve school safety plans
By Tracey Tylman
For the Enquirer
School and community leaders recently came together to update the Hartselle City Schools catastrophe plan. Alabama passed the School Security Act last year that included new requirements, such as involving more agencies in the planning process.
A catastrophe plan includes plans for events such as fire, tornado or school lockdown. Director of Operations Rocky Smith explained the most common reason for a school needing to use a safety plan is a gas leak. Both Hartselle fire chief Daryl Fox and police Chief Alan McDearmond have managed issues involving a gas leak, but the schools did not need to be evacuated, Smith said.
When the School Security Act came into effect, a grant was given to the districts. The grant was used to install safety film on the windows that help protect from natural disasters and break-ins. Smith stated it would be great if the state sent the grant each year, but so far, they have only received one for last year.
Another new requirement is all agencies are to meet when updating their plan. Those present include the police and fire department, mental health agencies, school medical staff, EMT services and district representatives.
Since July 2024, there have been 17 meetings and drills. Smith explained having everyone there to observe leads to improvements in overall preparedness. Drills worked together allowed each group to act out what their role would be in real time. McDearmond and Fox both advised being present allowed for issues to be fixed as they arose.
Preventive measures are a strong pillar of a school’s catastrophe plan. The goal is to create a welcoming and inclusive environment within the school for all students. All staff, not just teachers, go through safety training. The goal is that who-ever a student may feel comfortable with will be trained to help them. With fostering this welcoming environment, school counselors play a significant role. Dana Gladden, the mental health service coordinator for Hartselle City Schools, advised the schools work with Mental Health Center of North Central Alabama. This allows therapists to come to the schools and meet with the children.
Gladden explained school based mental health allows more students to meet with therapists, and they miss less school, too. There are also plans in place to help students with conflict resolutions. “No two situations are ever alike,” Gladden said, adding “we want to give them life skills” when handling tough situations.
School resource officers are another preventive measure. McDearmond said the SROs have even volunteered their time to the students in addition to being present during the school day. Some have spent evenings at afterschool events. Other SROs have taken part in school events alongside the students, helping to foster healthy relationships.
More than a handful of agencies came together to update Hartselle’s school safety plan for the 2024-25 school year. The idea is to continue this trend each year, with the hope of leading to stronger relationships between the agencies and safety planning.
