AWSP Blog

Another tragedy. Another senseless act. Another experience that creates fear in our system. I’m numb. My emotions are all over the place as I begin to wrestle with how do we (adults) support our communities through yet another horrific and vile act of violence The answer is, I don’t know. What I know is that our communities deserve grace, patience, and love as we mourn, hurt, cry and be angry. What I know is that our students deserve to know they are loved, and worthy of love.

Many people around the country think of Washington as rainy. They may also think of earthquakes. And the beautiful Palouse.  Many people often do not realize that Washington is also the home of five active volcanoes: Mount Rainier, Mount St. Helens, Mount Baker, Glacier Peak, and Mount Adams. The U.S. Geological Survey tells us that the volcanoes of the Cascade Range are some of the most hazardous in the United States. (USGS)

The recent HB 1941 (2022) added language to the regular drill requirements. The new language seems to have caused a bit of confusion. Let’s take a quick look at school safety drills.

The Legislature used these words to underscore the importance of safety planning when it first required districts and schools to develop and maintain safety plans twenty years ago in 2002. Two things jump out at me when I read this. First, the foundational importance of ensuring a safe learning environment. That safe environment includes physical, psychological, emotional, and educational safety. And second, the environment is safe for all. All.

When we begin comprehensive safety planning, we do a risk assessment for our district or our school. What are those risks and hazards which we might have to deal with? How much peril are we in because of them? We establish Threat Assessment teams to help identify potential risk factors impacting the life of a student. We insure our assets and help provide safe learning environments with the help of our excellent statewide risk pools. And so on…Let’s change courses a bit. Let’s consider technology.