LEAP EXAMINES STUDENT SAFETY
Programs from the state to local level designed to make schools safer were discussed at the September
10th meeting of the Loudoun Education Alliance of Parents (LEAP).
Mark Fero of the Virginia Attorney General’s Office spoke about Virginia Rules, a curriculum-based
program designed to familiarize students with the laws of the commonwealth and how they apply to
youth. The effort is centered on a website, http://www.virginiarules.com/virginia-rules/, which contains 22
Standards of Learning-based civics lessons. Subjects covered include Introduction to Laws in Virginia;
Introduction to Virginia’s Judicial System; Introduction to Juvenile Justice in Virginia; Keeping Your
Driver's License; Bullying; Gangs; Teens and Violence; Dating Violence; Alcohol and Tobacco; Drugs;
andTechnology and You.
Fero said the website is a living document with various state agencies updating it as laws and regulations
are changed.
“The idea is to teach the students about the law and the consequences of the law and how to be good
citizens,” said Fero. “We want kids to be safe. We want them to learn about the law.”
Along with lessons for students, Virginia Rules can provide practical tips to adults on subjects such as
how to safely host a party at your house.
Fairfax, Virginia Beach and Norfolk have hosted pilots for the program, which can be taught by school
resource officers, teachers or volunteers (attorneys have volunteered to teach at some sites). Fero said
the attorney general’s goal is to reach 250,000 students through 2,000 instructors.
Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) Safety and Security Supervisor Suzanne Devlin discussed the “If
You See Something, Say Something” program. Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) is partnering with
the federal Department of Homeland Security, the Virginia State Police, Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office,
Leesburg Police Department, Middleburg Police Department and Purcellville Police Department in raising
the awareness of suspicious activity and behavior in schools.
“We’ve hardened our physical school boundaries,” said Devlin, noting LCPS has electronic locks,
monitored entry points and surveillance equipment in place. This program is designed to make schools
safer by having everyone connected with the school community pass along tips on behavior that looks out
of place and potentially harmful. “School security is not just school business, it’s everybody’s business.”
Things that could be reported include an unattended backpack that has been left too long in one spot or
someone threatening to do harm to themselves or others on Twitter.
Devlin noted that 130 potential school shootings may have been averted since the December 12, 2012,
shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary through members of the school community alerting school officials
about potential danger. “We’re moving into a new environment and it will take all of us watching.”
“If You See Something, Say Something” was adapted by the Department of Homeland Security from the
New York City Transit System. The program was developed after the September 11, 2001, terrorist
attacks. The program was expanded to schools in 2012 in an effort to stop violent school-related
incidents.
LCPS is one of the first public school systems to take part in the “If You See Something, Say Something”
program.
LCPS Director of Student Services Dr. Suzanne Jimenez spoke about bullying prevention. She noted the
school district developed formal anti-bullying guidelines in 2009 to intervene and prevent bullying. “We’re
not waiting to say this behavior was a pattern.”
Central to the LCPS anti-bullying strategy is Positive Behavior Interventions and Support (PBIS). Jimenez
said PBIS sets specific expectations and teaches the behaviors necessary to meet them. Students also
are recognized for meeting expectations. Since PBIS has been enacted in LCPS schools. Jimenez said
on-time attendance has increased and office referrals have gone down. “Expect Respect” has become a
theme in many schools.
Through PBIS bystanders are empowered to intervene (non-violently) in bullying situations and students
are taught how to walk away from potential conflicts. Jimenez said LCPS also has restorative practices
that allow students who find themselves in conflict to work through their differences through mediation.
Jimenez also asked parents to be aware of their child’s interactions on social media and to be aware of
what apps the child has on their phone. (This could lead to the parent knowing if their child was being
bullied or is a bully.) She said parents have an opportunity to model responsible behavior for their
children.
LCPS Director of Diagnostic and Prevention Services John Lody and Nick Gentile, president of Potomac
Psychological Center spoke about suicide prevention. Both noted that suicide is the third-leading cause of
death among young adults. “Anything that’s included in mortality rates is something we should be worried
about,”said Lody.
Lody said 15.8 percent of students in grades nine through 12 report that they have seriously considered
suicide. He said 90 percent of suicide attempts are associated with a psychological disorder, typically
depression.
LCPS has had an anti-suicide curriculum through its health and physical classes. Lody said ninth grade is
the starting point for this curriculum and that more than 40,000 students have been through it since its
introduction during the 2001-2002 school year.
Lody said one of the prevalent myths about suicide is that talking about it will encourage it. He added 86
percent of the people surrounding a student who has attempted suicide were unaware of the student’s
suicidal tendencies. Lody said the LCPS curriculum is designed encourage help-seeking behavior, not
privately suffering through a problem.
Gentile also encouraged people to speak to those who voice suicidal thoughts. “Talking about suicide will
not make a person more suicidal.” What it will do is make the person feel less alone. Gentile added that
leaving a person who has expressed suicidal thoughts alone is something that should never be done.
Evaluating the level of danger is another key to avoiding suicide, Gentile said. Calling 911 or a clinical
treatment center is not unwarranted if someone is seriously expressing suicidal thoughts.
Warning signs that a person is serious about committing suicide include seeking weapons or drugs.
Family history regarding suicide also is a large risk factor, said Gentile.“The more risk factors present, the
greater the risk for suicide.”
The next LEAP meeting will be October 8th.