Paper Binders and the School Safety Plan

Aside

Most schools have an safety plan that consists of a detailed set of instructions bundled in a 3-ring binder. Updates occur during the school year occur, and are typically distributed via email or occasionally mass printed and shared at staff meetings. It then becomes the responsibility of the holder of the 3-ring binder to put the updates into the right tab–doing this presumably in a timely fashion..

Two decades ago, school safety consisted mostly of a few fire drills, safety patrols, observant staff and perhaps a tornado drill or two. This world has changed since Columbine and Sandy Hook and Katrina. We recognize that local law enforcement, school officials and even FEMA must work collaboratively and actively together to build a safe and effective plan—one that is less dependent on individual people and more dependent on systems. That was one of the key tragic lessons from Sandy Hook.

Let’s face it: To be most effective, schools must do more than print out pages and distribute safety binders. What’s needed are stronger, modern systems that include built-in communications, alerts, instructions, and guides for navigating emergencies. If you are still using paper—wake up to the 21st century. Your life––and the life of others––depends on it.

Winning at the Big Dance

Watching selection Sunday can bring both heartbreak and excitement for any basketball fan. 66 teams start––but only team one finishes on top. It allows all fans to pick their favorite—including an alma mater, local team or a national powerhouse. Like a lunch great lunch buffet, the action continues until the tournament winner is crowned.

When I visit with organizations during these weeks, talking about the NCAA Tournament is a nice ice-breaker. We find out favorites and a few surprise selections. Whatever the outcome, the tournament is an exciting time in college sports and highlights incredible games from around the country. It highlights all kinds of winning programs and reinvigorates alumni to pay a little closer attention during the month on March.