School Safety Initiatives New Hanover County Schools

1. School Safety Initiatives New Hanover County Schools Dr. Tim Markley, Superintendent October 19, 2018

2. NHCS FACTS: • New Hanover County Schools currently serves approximately 26,000 students. • It is one of the 12 largest public school districts in North Carolina that includes 44 schools: • 2 - Pre-K Centers • 1 - Pre-K/Kindergarten Center • 25 - Elementary Schools • 7 - Middle Schools • 8 - High Schools – 4 Traditional, 2 Early Colleges, 1 Voc-Tech & 1 Career Readiness Academy • 1 - Alternative School/Suspension Center • NHCS has: • 42 - school facilities (2 additional schools are located on CFCC North Campus) • 3 - Administrative Complexes

3. Physical Security

4. Risk & Vulnerability Assessment URS Corporation (July 2013) Comprehensive Assessment included: Physical Security, Emergency Operations Plan, Individual School Crisis Plans, NHCS Building Access Procedures. Recommendations for physical security and building access improvements have been funded in the 2014 School Bond and Annual Capital Construction Budgets.

5. Physical Security & Building Access Improvements Site improvements: School identification, signage improved vehicular & pedestrian traffic flow Building improvements: access control, visitor sign-in & badging system, security vestibules, panic alarms, classroom locks, integrated computer locks, security cameras, updated communication systems Buses: Security cameras, GPS tracking on all “yellow” buses Emergency response: School plans shared with law enforcement, “Knox Boxes” installed at all schools

6. 2014 School Bond Projects Security cameras & updated communication systems Replacement of Blair & College Park elementary schools New Porters Neck Elementary School Laney & Hoggard High School additions & renovations Middle school renovations (Myrtle Grove, Roland-Grise, Trask, & Noble) Wrightsville Beach Elementary School additions & renovations

7. Continued Efforts to Improve Safety & Security Access control & integrated computer locks at high schools Security cameras & updated communication systems Update risk & vulnerability assessment (physical security): • New products & technologies • Best practices • Recommendations, estimated costs & implementation plan

8. Mental Health Services

9. Current Services Available within NHCS: 39 School Social Workers & 72 School Counselors New Hanover County Health Department • 16 school-based therapists, 1 supervisor, serve 21 schools • Funded through NHCS/NHC/ insurance reimbursements Learning Perspectives • 1 therapist, 2 schools • Funded through insurance reimbursement RHA • 1 therapist, 3 schools • Funded through insurance reimbursements

10. Current Services Available within NHCS: Coastal Horizons: • School-based health clinics – WHAT – in each of our four traditional high schools. These clinics provide both physical and mental health services. • K-8 Day Treatment Center that can serve up to 65 students – Lake Forest Academy. • Several therapists serving 5 schools and adding 5 additional schools this year. • Funded through insurance reimbursement. **All schools now have access to school-based therapy.

11. Transition Classrooms and Suspension Alternatives All students returning from incarceration, drug treatment, and psychiatric hospitalization have the opportunity to return to school in a smaller setting. • Grades K-5 are housed at Lake Forest Academy. • Grades 6-12 are housed at the JC Roe Center. All 6th-12th Grade students that receive a 5 to 10-day short-term suspension may attend the Choices Program at the JC Roe Center. All 6th-12thGrade students that receive a long-term suspension have the opportunity to attend the JC Roe Center.

12. Law Enforcement Support

13. School Resource Officers (SROs) • NHCS has 51 Law Enforcement Officers serving our schools and include the following assignments: • New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office • 1 - Lieutenant & 3 - Sergeants overseeing the 3 divisions – Northern, Central & Southern • 3 - Corporals • 11 - SROs are assigned to elementary schools • 8 - SROs are assigned to middle schools • 16 - SROs are assigned to high schools • 2 - SROs are assigned to the JC Roe Center and support other schools as needed • 2 - G.R.E.A.T. SROs • Other Law Enforcement Support: • 4 - Wilmington Police Department Officers (assigned to Hoggard, NHHS, Roe & Williston) • 1 - Carolina Beach Officer (assigned to Carolina Beach Elementary)

14. Support Grants

15. Current NC DPI School Safety Grants School Resource Officer Grant • 11 Full time SRO's • $380,413 School Mental Health Personnel Grant • Additional School Social Worker at Laney High School • $61,000

16. Current NC DPI School Safety Grants Training to Increase School Safety Grant • Community Resilience Model Training • Partnership with Communities in Schools • Train-the-Trainer, Coaching and Support, Substitutes • Goal: Provide basic Trauma-informed schools training (all schools) • $115,000 Students in Crisis Grant • Mobile Licensed Therapist • Partnership with Coastal Horizons • Mental health crisis assessments in the schools  • Provide therapeutic groups  with the NHCS Crisis Response team

17. Current NC DPI School Safety Grants Training to Increase School Safety Grant  • "All Hands on Deck" • For NHCS and Sheriff's Department • Partnership with RTI International • SEL Training for 2 High schools • Also focuses heavily on SRO Training  • $86,000

18. Other Grants and Initiatives Empowering Youth, Engaging Students (EYES) Grant • Partnership with the National School Climate Center • 5 - participating middle schools • A four-year initiative funded by The Harvey L. Miller Family Foundation that combines the National School Climate Center’s approach to comprehensive school climate improvement with the Facing History and Ourselves instructional approach to build cultural competency and reduce bullying behaviors. • $1.5 million

19. Other Grants and Initiatives Sanford Harmony • Elementary Schools • Sponsoring University – ECU • A social-emotional program that builds strong classroom relationships and supportive learning communities. • All materials and training are free of charge Sandy Hook Promise • Planning stages of Say Something – Anonymous Reporting System (SS-ARS) • Will roll-out to all middle and high schools in Winter 2019. • Trains students and staff to recognize signs of violence. • Allows students to make an anonymous tip through an app, phone number, or website. • All Sandy Hook Promise programs are free of charge.

20. Student Mentoring Programs

21. WATCH D.O.G.S. • Watch Dads of Great Students is a national mentoring program for “dads” to participate in at the elementary and middle school levels. • Several NHCS elementary and middle schools have a successful WATCH D.O.G.S. program. • Dads serve as hallway and cafeteria monitors, assist with morning arrival and afternoon dismissal and other school-related activities. • Dads can also be community members, who want to serve and support a school.

22. Girl P.O.W.E.R. • A district-based, middle school mentoring program for at-risk girls. Currently, the program serves students at Williston Middle School. • The program has been established to: • Encourage academic success, good manners, and self-confidence. • Build character and sisterhood among middle school-aged girls. • Understand the importance of self-esteem and respect. • Discourage fighting, bullying, and other negative behaviors. • Meet female community leaders to learn about educational tracks and career opportunities.