Oxford Community Schools is kicking off its first Safety Committee meeting for the 2015-16 school year on Nov. 20 at 9 a.m. in the Board of Education meeting room at the administration building, located at 10 N. Washington Street.
Assistant Superintendent of Business and Operations and Chairman of the committee Sam Barna said the committee will consist of school administrators, including principals from each of the schools, student dean of students from the high school, Oxford High School’s security guard, as well as both Oxford and Addison fire chiefs, Oxford Village police chief, Oxford’s Oakland County Sheriff’s substation commander and community leaders.
‘It’s getting all of these players together that have diverse experience, diverse knowledge and show them and talk about the things we’re doing in the district and have done. Then Try to develop a good game plan, a better game plan for the district going forward to ensure our children are safe,? Barna said. ‘The safest we can make our buildings, transportation, you name it, it’s all of that encompassed into one safety plan. That’s what we’re trying to do.?
Barna said the meeting is open to anyone who would like to attend, but because physical space is limiting, he is asking if people are considering attending that they shoot him an e-mail at sam.barna@oxfordschools.org or call 248-969-5000.
‘As long as people feel they have a voice and I want people to be heard. That’s the thing, we’re in this district with residents that care and I want to make sure we cater to the residents and the students of the district appropriately,? he said. ‘If people can’t make it or they don’t know about it, we’re going to have a follow-up meeting.?
With Barna and Tony Sarkins who is the supervisor of maintenance being new to the district. And with Tim Throne as the new superintendent, Barna felt it was important do a safety program and safety plan.
‘I felt it was good to get all these players involved and start having some conversations and again start talking about where we’ve been, what we’re doing now and where we want to be,? he said.
While Oxford is not a large district, they’re not a small district either with approximately 5,700 students Barna said.
‘There are a lot going on and a lot we need to make sure we’re managing appropriately from a safety aspect,? he added. ‘That’s why this (meeting is) important, so we can really concentrate on the different facets of safety and making sure we’re doing all we can do.?
Barna said he not only wants to hear possible concerns people have, but ideas as well. Such as what they can do better or what should they be looking at that maybe they’re not looking at?
‘Especially the way you’ve seen in the press and what’s happening, not only in the state and the nation, but around the world with individuals targeting students or schools. We’re very concerned about that and we want to make sure the protocols that we currently have in place (are good and we) continue to look at those and see how we can improve upon those to make our schools even safer,? he said. ‘We realize, no one is going to be able to prevent 100 percent instances like we’ve seen in the paper, but that’s not an excuse to say we can’t do the very best we can do to try avoid those types of situations, that’s our responsibility.?
Some of the things the district has done to help with safety includes making sure all interior and exterior lights work at each building including fixing parking lot lights, criminal record checks for all employees, SchoolGate Guardian checks for individuals who enter the school buildings during the day, Building doors locked after the start of school, except the main entrance which must be accessed through the main office, communication plans in place for emergencies, video surveillance and much more.
They have also recently implemented door numbering at the high school and plans are being finalized for the remaining buildings, which police and fire departments will all have map copies of with door numbers labeled.
‘I think it helps from a communication standpoint to pinpoint of where there is an issue. It helps not just internally, for the school leadership but the police or fire as well,? Barna said. ‘So if a fire breaks out but is not readily visible from the outside, but someone can say ‘door number five at Lakeville,? than they know exactly where to go.?
From a safety standpoint, Barna wants to make sure they’re not only doing everything they can from background and physical building safety, but also emergency situations.
‘Let’s rehash those. Are we doing the right things? Let assume to scenarios that could potentially occur in this district or any district,? Barna said. ‘This is the response we have, is that still an appropriate response according to today’s standards? I just want to make sure what we have and what our thought processes are from an emergency standpoint and safety standpoint kind of are the current thinking and the thinking that will provide the best and safest results for the kids. That’s really huge in these discussions with these subject matter experts here.?
He noted that he also invited a representative from the district’s risk-management insurer SET-SEG to attend the meeting as well.
‘Maybe they have some additional ideas that we can talk about as well,? he said.
As far as meeting goes, Barna hopes to make it a regular thing.
‘I forsee this as bare minimum a quarterly meeting, that’s the way I envision this,? he said. ‘I will ask that question to the majority and see what their feelings are as well, but my thoughts are at least quarterly.?
Throne said they’ve had a safety/security committee for a long time, but he’s happy to seeing it being revamped and updated.
‘Safety and security has been and will continue to be a top priority in this district. Parents have to know that their kids are safe,? Throne said. ‘While we feel good about where we’re at, it doesn’t mean you ever stop trying to be better in this area.?