Bob D - Good evening, everyone! Welcome to a session on crisis mgt. :-(
Bob D - Let me tell you a little about myself and then we can get started
Bob D - I have written a book on crisis mgt. and I have been a high school principal. I am now working at a university training people to become administrators.
Bob D - What questions do you have that we can start with?
Griffith - Bob: Do you consider the Decatur, Illinois situation to be a crisis appropriate for discussion here.
Bob D - It certainly was a crisis!
Griffith - Bob.D.:What could have the Decatur Bd, of Educ. done differently.
Davey/CA - Thanks Bob.. speaking of Decatur, how do you see the "crisis" there... seems to me the crisis part was the political aftermath rather than onsite activity
Bob D - Decatur was a political crisis, never yet, a crisis
Griffith - Bob: Decatur is a crisis!
Bob D - It would take a different type of crisis plan to deal with Decatur. What would be some of the components
Bob D - I think a plan has to have a media section as part of the plan.
Bob D - What type of plan do you think was needed?
Davey/CA - I do have a suggestion regarding Decatur...
Davey/CA - The Decatur shows the need to provide community input when a policy is developed that calls for "zero tolerance" for negative activities
Davey/CA - That way, the community is not only NOT caught off guard but has an opportunity for input and buy in
Bob D - I agree, it takes a village to provide a safe environment
Davey/CA - Then the political questions can at least be demonstrated as having been reviewed before a similar crisis occurs again.. done
Griffith - Certainly there are a number of questions about what occurred in decatur but what I find most upsetting is that an outside influence can come into any school district and force a board of educ. to change it's decision.
Bob D - There are many facets to a crisis response plan. We need to be proactive and think about the possibilities before they happen.
Bob D - Grif: What about those outside influences?
ehawk - Griffith, How do you overcome media pressure and a board's reaction to it?
Griffith - It seems to go back to the local control issue. As long as a district abide by the laws of the land state,federal and local and has policies in place why should a political or non-political name be recognized to intervien.
Bob D - ehawk, while Grif is responding, let me say that I do not think you can overcome the media pressure, you have to work within the parameters that are presented
Bob D - I think the policy issue is key and then having the guts to inforce the policy
Pete - There are a few things that people can cry and get heard in this country. Racism is one of those things that will always get people's attention.
Griffith - ehawk: If the policy is in place then the Bd. as well as district employees are to follw the policy. That is the purpose of the policy. The media and influence on the Bd. seems to be the same issue as any other outsde influence.
Bob D - Decatur, as I understand it was not a racism issue but more of a quality of policy issue. Is two years out of school an appropriate punishment?
Bob D - Right now there is a BIG question mark on that issue. I understand that the Feds are going to be looking at that issue.
Davey/CA - With regard to media, it is difficult to overcome bad press, but if a local Ed. agency can, it should do all possible to be upfront and work in a positive light with them to demonstrate good faith efforts to correct what I view as an error in district decision making.
Griffith - Bob: Having worked in Illinois for 25 years I do not understand the 2 year expulsion. One year was max by state law unless a gun was involved.
Bob D - Two years is a little much for me!
Bob D - Davey/CA, I couldn't agree more on that. If you can get them working with you it is better than working against you.
Griffith - Bob: I guess I diagree with you on the two years expulsion. When some type of alternative edcation can be provided we have a responsibilty to protect other students and our selves. Alternative ed. program might be tutoring at home or at the police station!!!
Bob D - Grif: I don't disagree with you but I think two years will not reabilitate anyone without some counseling and education. Look at the penial system.
jody - 2 years is a little extreme. In South Carolina they use alternative schools as their solutions and that is not working either.
Virginia - Do you advocate individualized crisis plans, or system wide.
Bob D - I think you need to have both type of plans. There is some thought that building and central office plans are needed.
Bob D - Virginia: Does your district have a plan?
Virginia - If you had to choose, which would have priority? /ga
Virginia - Private school. No district plan. Have school plan. State mandated.
Bob D - I think a building plan needs to be in place for the safety of kids, but I would follow up quickly with any systemwide plan
Bob D - Virginia: What state are you in?
Virginia - Does your book have an example of a system wide plan? I am in Indiana.
Bob D - The book deals with building level but can be adapted to a systemwide approach.
Virginia - I am on a task force for such a plan, but little support.
Bob D - Do you have any specific questions about systemwide plans? There are a different set of questions to answer
Virginia - Was wondering how flexible they needed to be. I will buy your book.
Bob D - Virginia: If you have some specific questions I will be happy to converse with you by email or telephone
Pete - What policies do people have for weapons at school other than guns?
Bob D - Good question, Pete, that brings up the question of zero tolerance policies
Griffith - Pete: When I was supt. in Peoria Ill. we had a zero tolerlance for any item that was a weapon or was used as a weapon eg a pencil.
Pete - In our district, other than a gun, it is at the principal's discretion.
Virginia - Bob D, your feelings on zero tolerence policies?
jody - I was going to ask about the no tolerance idea also. and what about it in accordanance with special ed.
Bob D - Jody: Do you think the zero tolerance is a good idea? Reg. Ed or Spec. Ed.
jody - I think it is a good idea for both. I work with the special ed. population and I they are not strict enough with this population. I think they should be treated equal.
Bob D - Jody: I think that is a liberal view of the people I talk with, but I have a tendency to agree with you.
jody - I was threatened last year by a child (spec. ed) and he was put right back in my class because he was spec. ed. It was not related to his disability at all.
Griffith - jody:I agree on equal treatment for equal acts.
Bob D - Let me ask a question: Is zero tolerance the way to go or does someone else have a better way to go.
jody - What should it matter if a regular ed. student or spec. ed student brings a weapon to school, they can both do they same harm to everyone else.
Virginia - Local policy lets principal decide on case by case basis.
Bob D - Jody: I agree, but the law does not allow for equal treatment.
jody - I believe zero tolerance should be the way to go. Someone has to be accountable for the actions that are being taken by the students.
Bob D - Virginia: I think you are from Indiana. Could you enlighten us as to local policy and administrative discretion
Virginia - I am private school, but I believe that there is some discretion in local public schools as well.
ehawk - I have a son who hunts. If he accidently left his gun in his car and drove to school, is he expelled if zero tollerance is policy?
Pete - Our building principal has told us that it is his call as to the discipline of students with weapons other than guns.
Bob D - The private sector is a little different. Some flexibility there
Bob D - ehawk: based on the policy, yes
Griffith - ehawk: In a zero tollerance district he would be gone and in Illinois could be for up to 2 years.
Pete - We lost our alternative school because of money. We have a program in our school, but it doesn't have the same impact as an alternative school.
jody - I was at a legal seminar the other day, how can they consider only a blade more than 2" a weapon, under 2" can harm someone too!!!
Bob D - ehawk: I have been in the rural area and I know what you are saying, but for the safety of all children, if the policy states that no firearms on school property, then there would be a consequence and it may be stiff.
ehawk - Can an administration who knows it was a mistake do anything about it?
Griffith - jogy: you can do alot of damage with a sharp pencil.
Bob D - It depends on the flexibility of the principal and the policy. Zero tolerance means no tolerance.
jody - We had a student who brought a knife to school and he could not be expelled more than 10 days because his blade was less than 2". Explain that to me.
Virginia - ehawk, know an administrator in Ohio who KNEW she didn't need to expel child, but had no choice. Weapon was a knife.
Griffith - ehawk: Might be able to get some type of probation if that is written into the policy. In some districts there certain grade levels that may be excluded e.g. kindergarten and grade one.
ehawk - Ithink that Bob D and Griffith should get together and teach a superintendent certification class at some university. Thanks for your time!
Kathleen - Yes, Bob, you did well :-). On behalf of Teachers.Net, thank you for moderating this session. And thank you to all participants. Shall we schedule additional chats like this for school administrators in year 2000?
Virginia - Absolutely!
Bob D - Virginia and anyone else, if you have any questions email me at robert.decker@uni.edu
Kathleen - Are you interested in meeting weekly?
Bob D - I would be happy to moderate additional sessions if the group wished.
Bob D - Weekly would be great!
Griffith - Kath: Yes, Decker has worked hard to get us this far.
Bob D - I believe there is a need for this type of discussion.
Bob D - Well time is gone and I thank all of you for your participation.
