School Safety Committee
All members of the school community, including administrators, staff, students, parents, the NYPD, community leaders and community agencies must engage in meaningful ongoing dialogue and collaboration to ensure safe schools. The creation of safety committees at the school/campus level provides a basis for such dialogue and for drawing upon school and community resources to enhance safety.
Every school/campus must have a School Safety Committee. It is the responsibility of the Principal(s) to ensure that such a committee is established and meets on a monthly basis. The committee plays an essential role in the establishment of safety procedures, the communication of expectations and responsibilities of students and staff, and the design of prevention and intervention strategies and programs specific to the needs of the school.
The committee shall, at a minimum, be comprised of the following individuals: Principal(s); designee of all other programs operating within the building; UFT Chapter Leader; Custodial Engineer/designee; In-house School Safety Agent Level III/designee; local law enforcement officials; Parent Association President/designee; Dietician/designee of food services for the site; community members; local ambulance or other emergency response agencies; representative of the student body (when appropriate); and any other persons deemed appropriate by the Principal(s).
The committee is responsible for addressing safety matters on an ongoing basis and making appropriate recommendations to the Principal when it identifies the need for additional security measures, intervention, training, etc.
The committee is responsible for developing a comprehensive safety plan which defines the normal operations of the site and what procedures are in place in the event of an emergency. The plan must be consistent with the prescribed safety plan shell, which is made available online via the web-based School Safety Plan portal on an annual basis. Safety plans must be updated annually by the School Safety Committee in order to meet changing security needs, changes in organization and building conditions and other factors. In addition, the committee should recommend changes in the safety plan at any other time when it is necessary to address security concerns .
Learn more Chancellor's Regulations A-414-School Safety Plans