MONTEE: WEAKNESSES IDENTIFIED IN SCHOOL DISTRICTS' APPLICATION OF SAFE SCHOOLS INITIATIVES
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday August 19, 2008
CONTACT: Samantha Brewer,
Public Affairs Coordinator
(573) 751-5313
E-mail:
Samantha.Brewer@auditor.mo.gov
"Safe Schools Initiatives help protect our children," Montee said. "When the school districts and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education do not fully implement or monitor these policies, procedures, and programs, our children are at greater risk."
(JEFFERSON CITY, MO) – Today State Auditor Susan Montee released an audit of Safe Schools Initiatives. This audit identified weaknesses on the district and state level. The weaknesses, outlined below, include incomplete discipline policies, inadequate communication of said policies, and inaccurate incident data.
- There are insufficient violence prevention programs, anti-bullying policies, safety procedures and programs, and emergency management plans and drills.
- Missouri school districts need to better address Internet safety, sex offenders, and the state violence hotline (866-748-7047), and should consider evaluating their policies, procedures, and programs to determine the extent to which improvements are needed. These weaknesses should be considered when safe schools issues and programs are proposed, discussed, evaluated, and monitored by school districts, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), other state agencies, and the General Assembly.
- The state should improve its oversight of school safety issues both at the school district and state level. A comprehensive, coordinated safe schools program may help assist school districts in improving safety, and additional laws or regulations may be needed to address significant safe schools issues.
- The DESE should better monitor school districts' policies and procedures related to safe schools issues, ensure school districts report complete and accurate data, and increase the level of discipline incident detail in the system.
- The department needs to better communicate the Missouri Violence Prevention Curriculum Framework to school districts and evaluate its effectiveness, evaluate school districts’ violence prevention programs, and better publicize the state violence hotline.
- The DESE should document their determination of persistently dangerous schools, and ensure reports of school discipline data are accurate and complete.
