DIVISION OF SCHOOL SAFETY
P. O. Box 771
Jackson, MS 39205-0771
601-359-1028
Fax: 601-359-3184

• Additional Resources
• Vision
• Mission Statement
• Technical Assistance
• Mississippi Institute for School Safety Training
• MDE School Occupational Safety and Crisis Response Plan
• School Resource Officer Course Outline
• School Safety Officer Course Outline
• School Safety Manual 2005
• School Safety Manual Appendices
• MDE Crisis/Disaster Response Team
• Safe and Orderly Schools: Sample Drug Testing Policies & Legal Guidelines
  • Long Beach School District Drug Testing Policy
  • Madison School District Drug Testing Policy
  • McComb School District Drug Testing Policy
  • North Pike School District Drug Testing Policy
  • Pearl School District Drug Testing Policy
  • Petal School District Drug Testing Policy
  • Tupelo Drug and Steroid Use in School Athletics Policy
  • Tupelo Drug and Alcohol Policy
• Resource Library
•      (Policy & Procedures and Check-Out Form)
• Comprehensive School Safety
• "Connections" School Safety Hotline
• How Does Mississippi Compare With Other States
• Youth Violence and School Safety Initiative
  

VISION
 
 

The goal of the Division of School Safety is to provide guidance to school districts in the development and maintenance of a safe and secure school environment that compliments and supports the learning process in an atmosphere conducive to the personal safety of all students, faculty, and administrators.  To this end, Mississippi has selected and operational approach to school safety as opposed to a programmatic approach.  This means that a school must have sound, prudent, daily policies and procedures that will afford a safe environment in which educational programs can proceed.

We feel school safety is a community based collaborative effort on the part of the school system, community groups, local agencies, students, and parents. We welcome your input and the opportunity to be of assistance.
 
 

The mission of the Division of School Safety is to provide the local school district and community with the most comprehensive resources available to assist the in the design, implementation, and maintenance of a safe and orderly educational environment.  It also services as the lead state entity in school safety and acts as a clearinghouse for all school safety information and statistics.
 

The Mississippi Institute for School Safety was established as a collaborative effort on the part of the Mississippi Department of Education, Mississippi Attorney General Mike Moore, Mississippi Department of Public Safety, Mississippi Department of Human Services, Mississippi Department of Mental Health, Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, and the Mississippi Association of School Security Officers. The institute was established to provide effective and efficient training to parents, students, teachers, administrators, and other interested parties in the area of school safety.

The institute is currently presenting a minimum of one major course per quarter in each congressional district. Concurrent with the courses, division personnel are meeting with parent groups to discuss parental concerns for school safety.

This innovative program is the first of its type in the nation and is being carried out with no additional appropriations of funding from the legislature. All partners are using internal funds to furnish the training.

Courses currently under development include:

School Safety Planning Workshop
Search and Seizure for Educators
Violent Confrontation Avoidance for Educators
Community Crisis Response Training
Sexual Harassment
School Safety Law and Policy Development
Threat Assessment Protocol for Educators
School Resource Officer Basic Course
School Safety Officer Basic Course
School Safety Instructor's Course

The institute has also partnered with the Gulf States Regional Community Policing Institute (www.GSRCPI.org) to furnish training to counselors, Sores and SSOs at no cost to the district.
 
 

The MDE Crisis Disaster Response Team (CDAT) is a group of highly trained specialists available for deployment to a school district that encounters a crisis or disaster and is in need of technical assistance in managing the situation. The team is deployed by the Super indent of Education based on a request for assistance from the local school district. The team cannot deploy without the local district requesting it.

The mission of the CDAT is to furnish advice and assistance to local district personnel. The CDAT can also mobilize those resources not normally available to the school district such as trauma counselors, media specialists, law enforcement support, and logistical support. This support can range from counselors to assist in counseling when a student commits suicide to heavy equipment to remove the debris from a tornado. The district remains in complete control of the situation, the team merely functions as a resource to be used or consulted by the district.

The initial site team consists of personnel with the following specialties:

        1. Law Enforcement
        2. Emergency Services
        3. Education Administration
        4. Behavioral Science

These personnel are trained in site management and control as well as how to maintain media control, coordination, and other aspects relating specifically to school incidents.  Counselors are available on short notice to assist districts with trauma counseling.
 

Safe and Orderly Schools
Sample Drug Testing Policies & Legal Guidelines
http://www.mde.k12.ms.us/lead/osos/threat.htm

In the interests of assisting school districts in the maintenance of a safe and secure educational environment, the division will conduct school safety assessments on request. In these assessments, the division team will come to a district and assess the safety, security, transportation, and structural safety of all buildings in the district in accordance with generally accepted standards for safety and security.

The division will then issue a report  of recommended improvements the school can use as a basis for revision of the school safety plan.
 

"CONNECTIONS" HOTLINE
 
 

In partnership with the Mississippi Department of Public Safety and Mississippi Crimestoppers Advisory Council, MDE has established the "Connections" Hotline. This number is a toll free number, answered 24 hours a day, at the Department of Public Safety. The purpose of the hotline is to furnish parents, students, staff, teachers, and administrators with a place they can report issues, situations, and information regarding school safety in an anonymous manner without fear of retribution.

To date, the hotline has resulted in the recovery of fourteen handguns and five felony arrests on campus as well as numerous other accomplishments.

The number is 1-888-827-4637.
 
 

The cost of resource material regarding school safety is extremely expensive. Therefore, the division is currently obtaining copies of and evaluating a wide range of training material and vendors. After evaluation for suitability and pertinence of the material , the division will purchase those items deemed to be of the highest quality.

The library also contains a vendor data file as well as a contractor file. These materials are available for loan to all school districts.
 
 

 

Title	Author
Breaking the Cycle of Violence II - Acting On Early Warning Signs	Hope Foundation
Breaking the Cycle of Violence II - Comprehensive Prevention Planning	Hope Foundation
Breaking the Cycle of Violence II - Containing Crisis	Hope Foundation
No Way To Treat Others	NIMCO, Inc., Productions
Violent Confrontation Avoidance for Human Services Professionals	Robert Laird & Richard Gray
Strong Minds:Mental Health for a New Generation	American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
Domestic Disputes: An Analysis of CF Officers Killed & Diffusing Aggressive Behavior
A New Way of Learning & Being Together	Tribes
Managing the Disruptive Classroom: Strategies for Educators	Agency for Instructional Technology
America At Risk	National Defense Industrial Association
Parent Who Care (2 Videos)	J. David Hawkins, Ph. D., Richard F. Catalano

Name of Person Checking out Material: ___________________________________

Name of Person Responsible for Material: _________________________________

Signature of Person Responsible for Material: ______________________________

School District: ______________________________________________________

School Name: _______________________________________________________

School Shipping Address: _____________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

Telephone Number: __________________________________________________

Fax Number: _______________________________________________________

Name of Library item(s) requested: _____________________________________
 
 

Statement: The School District will be responsible for shipping costs for returning the School Resource Library item(s) and any materials not returned:

Signature: __________________________________________________________

Position: (Please Print)_________________________________________________
 
 

Exhibit A
 

1.Person(s) requesting library item(s) must complete entire Library Check Out Form (See Exhibit A) and Policies and
 Procedures for Safety Resource Library Materials Form (See Exhibit B)

2.Item(s) requested shall be shipped within 10 working days or a reply given to the requesting entity if the items are
already checked out.

3.An electronic file will be maintained for tracking check out and due dates.

4.A Reminder Form Letter (See Exhibit C) will be sent to the person to whom the item(s) are checked out ten days
after the due date.

5.M.D.E. will allow printed items and audio-visual material a maximum of six weeks check out time, which includes
shipping time. An extension can be granted upon written request from the responsible party if the item(s) are not on a back-up demand list from other parties.

6.M.D.E. will pay shipping charges on the item(s) to requesting party(s).

7.The recipient will pay return shipping charges.

8.Recipient checks the condition of the packaging when delivered and reports any damage to the shipping agency.

M.D.E. repeats the procedure when the item(s) are returned by the school district to M.D.E.
 

Signature of person responsible for library material(s)

I agree to the above policies and procedures:

Sign: ________________________________________________________________________ 

School District
 

How does Mississippi School Safety Compare With Other States?
 

Mississippi is the only state in the United States to design, implement and field a program that will predict the probability of a violent act based on a student issued threat.

Mississippi is one of only two states that have taken a operational approach to school safety to provide a safe and secure operating environment for schools.

Mississippi has been requested to assist the US Department of Education in the design and conduct of sexual harassment training based on it's current programs.

Mississippi has had requests for technical assistance from several other states seeking to implement it's school safety concept.

Mississippi Department of Education was selected as one of the top nineteen school safety centersin the US to attend the national school safety summit.