The 411 - News You Can Use About Broward Schools

Ask the Superintendent

Q: In light of the recent school shootings in Minnesota, what is being done to keep Broward Schools safe?

A-The District continues to take the safety and security of students and staff very seriously. Over the past few years, the School Board has adopted policies, implemented programs and undertaken a wide variety of activities to ensure a safe and secure learning environment and reduce school crime and violence. Listed below are just some of those measures.

* A 24-hour, 7-day a week Security Hotline for individuals to alert the District about potentially dangerous situations (754-321-0911)
* "Silence Hurts" awareness campaign, that encourages students to break down the stereotype of being a "tattletale" and alert school staff/administrators or other adults if they are aware of a dangerous situation
* ZERO TOLERANCE: Mandatory suspension and expulsion for any student who uses, displays, transmits or handles a firearm - whether operable or inoperable, loaded or unloaded - on a school campus
* Mandatory suspension and expulsion for any student who makes a bomb threat
* Policy 5006, that delineates actions to be taken in response to student behavior that is violent or disruptive in nature
* List of unacceptable behaviors in the Code of Student Conduct expanded to include: "endangering the lives of students and staff by failing to report a threat of violence against others" and, most recently, cyber bullying
* Student I.D. systems in high schools
* Security cameras in all schools and soon, all centers
* Campus monitors and security specialists on all middle and high school campuses
* Procedures established for the use of hand-held metal detectors
* Youth Crime Watch programs at all middle and high schools - some elementary schools are implementing the program, while others participate in D.A.R.E or G.R.E.A.T or similar programs provided by local law enforcement agencies
* Special safety programs such as "Project C.A.R.G.O." and "GunStoppers"
* Alternative to Suspension and Expulsion Programs expanded
* Peer Counseling programs where students talk with other students
* Free short-term Family Counseling Services available to all students and their families
* School staff provided with training in verbal de-escalation
* Staff from every school trained in conflict resolution
* School Resource Officers (SROs) in all middle and high schools and the majority of elementary schools
* "Resident Officer on Campus Program" -- police officers live on school campuses as a deterrent to vandalism and crime
* Excellent, cooperative working relationships with all local law enforcement agencies
* Implementation of individual School Safety and Security Plans -- reviewed and updated yearly
* Trained Mobile Crisis Teams available

Story continued from page 1....
When he moved to Coconut Creek, Florida in 1997 with his wife, Maria (an ESOL paraprofessional at Tradewinds Elementary School) and his son, Thomas A. Giuliani III, he tried to retire once again but couldn't. After working some odd jobs - including a position at Home Depot - he joined the District in 2003 and continues to work Saturdays at Home Depot, as well.

It was a condolence letter Mr. Giuliani wrote to former First Lady Nancy Reagan upon the death of her husband and Mrs. Reagan's thoughtful response to Mr. Giuliani that he shared with a few of his co-workers that motivated 112 teachers at Lyons Creek Middle School to jointly nominate him as the subject of a 411 article. "We are so proud of him and feel safe having him care for us in our school," they wrote. Who wouldn't? He holds black belts in both Judo and Jujitsu, which he often demonstrates to students for self-defense purposes.

"In addition to helping keep the students at our school safe from harm, I also like to think of myself as a role model of sorts for those who don't have a strong father figure in their lives," said Mr. Giuliani, who also has a daughter, Maria, living in Los Angeles. "If I see them straying from the straight and narrow, I call them over to the side, mentor them and try to point them in the right direction." Yet another meaningful career calling for a man who just can't stop protecting others.

CAB CORNER
Summer is almost here, but before you head off, you need to get your CAB E-mail account ready for vacation! Your CAB Summer Checklist:
* Clean out your mailbox.
* Delete unwanted messages and Archive (save), off of CAB, messages you need to keep based on the E-mail guidelines.

For instructions, refer to Message Management/Archiving at
(www.broward.k12.fl.us/cab/learningresources.htm).

or visit Atomic Learning at (broward.atomiclearning.com)
-- just log on and select the CAB video tutorials.

The District's E-mail guidelines are located in CAB in BCPS Resources/BCPS Manuals and also on the
District's CAB Web site at (www.broward.k12.fl.us/cab).

* Create folders in CAB to house messages you wish to carry over to next year.
* If you will be gone for the summer, DO NOT PUT AN OUT OF OFFICE MESSAGE IN CAB!
* Remember your password

Keep your password in a secure place. You will be prompted to change your password on your return to school/the office if you have been gone for 45 days.

* Access CAB from anywhere/anytime

Even though you are not at work, you can still access your CAB account over the summer via the Web. Or, if you have Internet access at home, you can download and install the software on your home computer -- just go to: (webcab.browardschools.com).

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600 SE Third Ave. Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 USA
Phone: (754) 321-0000

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