I_SchSafety_2016A 09/13/2016 09:06:54 AM Committee Summary

09:07 AM -- Update on Arapahoe High School Reports Review Working Group



Senator Scheffel, chair, called the meeting to order. Roll call was taken. Senator Scheffel asked the committee members to reintroduce themselves and talk about any relevant projects they have been working on since the committee last met. He asked Christine Harms, Director of the Colorado School Safety Resource Center (CSSRC), and Kate O'Donnell, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, to come to the table to begin their presentation. Ms. Harms and Ms. O'Donnell distributed a copy of a report entitled Review of the Three Arapahoe High School Shooting 2013 Reports (Attachment A). Ms. Harms discussed the mission and purpose of the group that conducted the review, called the Colorado School Safety Resource Center Reports Working Group (CSSRC RWG). Ms. O'Donnell explained that all 3 of the Arapahoe High School reports (Arapahoe reports) had five recommendations in common: the need for climate surveys; information sharing agreements between schools and law enforcement; Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) training for school staff; utilization of the 11 questions on the US Secret Service school threat assessment; and promotion of the Safe2Tell program. Ms. Harms and Ms. O'Donnell talked about the threat assessment training provided by the CSSRC, as well as the recommendations made in the 3 Arapahoe reports with which the group agreed and the five recommendations in the reports with which the group disagreed. Ms. Harms and Ms. O'Donnell answered questions from the committee. Committee discussion ensued.







16SchoolSafety0913AttachA.pdf





09:32 AM



The committee discussed the difference between the Healthy Kids Colorado survey and general climate surveys about school safety. Ms. Harms continued her presentation and talked about the group's concern regarding the need for additional resources in order to implement the majority of the recommendations made in the three Arapahoe reports, and explained that the most needed resources include personnel, time, and training. Ms. Harms answered a question regarding the collaboration between the CSSRC and the Building Excellent Schools Today (BEST) program.





09:42 AM



Ms. Harms and Ms. O'Donnell continued to answer questions from the committee. Committee discussion ensued.





09:46 AM -- Presentation on the No Place for Hate Initiative



Senator Scheffel invited the next presenters to come to the table. Scott Levin, Director, Anti-Defamation League Mountain States Region (ADL), and Tara Raju, Education Director, ADL, introduced themselves to the committee. Mr. Levin talked about the mission and history of ADL. Ms. Raju discussed ADL's No Place for Hate Initiative (initiative), and discussed the steps that a school must take during the year-long process to implement the initiative. She told the committee that the five program requirements are: to create a coalition to oversee implementation; engage the students in the school to adopt and sign a Resolution of Respect; participate in one of ADL's A World of Difference Institute training programs; complete three or more anti-bias/diversity activities during the school year; and document all the required steps. She explained that once a school has completed these steps, the ADL publicly recognizes and designates the school as No Place for Hate.





10:02 AM



Ms. Raju and Mr. Levin discussed the results from a recent survey given to schools that participated in the initiative, and answered questions from the committee. Committee discussion ensued.





10:33 AM -- Overview of 2016 Legislation Affecting School Safety and Youth in Crisis



Senator Scheffel invited Richard Sweetman, Office of Legislative Legal Services, to come to the table to talk about legislation passed during the 2016 legislative session that relates to school safety and youth in crisis. Mr. Sweetman spoke about the following bills: Senate Bill 16-193, which concerned the duties of the Safe2Tell program; House Bill 16-1098, which updated provisions related to school discipline reporting, and House Bill 16-1063, which concerned an exception to the prohibition against disclosing information by a school mental health professional when school safety is at risk.





















10:43 AM -- Wrap up discussion



Senator Scheffel opened the floor for public testimony.



10:45 AM -- Steve Fast, Executive Director of the Colorado School District Self Insurance Pool (CSDSIP), spoke about the work that CSDSIP's member school districts have been doing that relates to the committee's work.





10:51 AM



There were no more witnesses and Senator Scheffel closed public testimony. He explained that the meeting would be the last meeting during the interim. Members of the committee took turns providing closing comments.





11:05 AM



The committee adjourned.