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Kentucky Center
for School Safety (KCSS), Kentucky Department of
Education (KDE), and Kentucky School Boards
Association (KSBA) are collaborating to provide safe
school assessments to any school in Kentucky. These
informational, independent assessments are not to be
confused with an audit. The voluntary assessment can
enhance the school's learning environment by
examining climate and culture.
Right- Jon Akers, Director of KCSS presents
information on safe school assessments to a MSU
class. |
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The safe school assessment provides the school with
an independent look at the school’s climate and
culture as it relates to enhancing the learning
environment. The safe school assessment process
involves many aspects, including an examination of
the school and recommendations. This also provides
the school with a needs assessment that can be used
in developing a school safety component of the
school’s Comprehensive School Improvement Plan. |
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Any local school or school district can request a
safe school assessment. This is not to be confused
with an audit. This assessment is strictly a
voluntary activity that includes an external
assessment team that meets with the school
principal, staff, students, and parents in order to
gain information about the school environment. |
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The visitation team can include representatives from
three state-level education agencies: Kentucky
Center for School Safety (KCSS), Kentucky Department
of Education (KDE), and Kentucky School Boards
Association (KSBA), (including its insurance
service). A typical team consists of six
representatives. |
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A Safe School Assessment is a service provided by
the Kentucky Center for School Safety at no cost to
the school or district. |
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The KCSS will provide or coordinate after-care
service once a school determines what areas it
wishes to address. This value-added component
demonstrates the partners’ intent to provide a
continuum of services when called upon, at no cost
to the school or district. |
Partnership
Appreciation
The
partnership between the Kentucky Center for School
Safety and the Kentucky School Boards Association
(KSBA) enhances and extends the quality of services
that are being brought into many of Kentucky’s
school districts. This is evidenced through the
valuable contribution of the Kentucky School Boards
Insurance Trust (KSBIT) to the safe school
assessment process. KSBIT has 8 full-time loss
control specialists who become a part of the
assessment whenever the superintendent of a
KSBIT-insured school requests KCSS’ assessment
service. During the assessment visit, these
well-trained professionals carefully review the
school’s physical plant, working with the full
assessment team to identify and make recommendations
to correct or mitigate any safety vulnerability
observed. These safety and health experts focus
daily on the specific and unique needs of Kentucky
schools to provide safer learning and working
environments for students and staff. KSBIT is a
tremendous asset that helps school districts
minimize risk and costly liability claims. From its
infancy, KCSS has been able to provide schools with
the additional support they sought for enhanced
safety by working in partnership with KSBIT. |
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For more information about Safe School Assessments
download our
brochure or contact
Barbara Gateskill Assessment Coordinator for
Kentucky Center for School Safety by using the KCSS
toll free number 1-877-805-4277. |
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