District safety audit finds signage, intercom and entry-point improvements needed; reunification drill planned
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Summary
District staff reported findings from a recent external safety audit recommending updated signage, intercom replacement at the middle school and securing elementary/intermediate entry points; the district will conduct an elementary reunification drill in spring coordinated with Doane and is monitoring a federal grant for intercom funding.
A district staff member provided a safety update at the October board meeting detailing required drills, the results of a recent external district safety audit and planned corrective steps.
The speaker reviewed annual drill requirements (monthly fire drills, one lockdown drill per semester, tornado drills in second semester, two annual bus evacuations, quarterly building-safety meetings and a rotating reunification drill with this year’s exercise scheduled for the elementary in coordination with Doane College). The district safety team meets quarterly; the Threat Assessment Team meets monthly and includes building representatives and counselors.
The district completed a required external safety audit conducted by an outside reviewer (Ron Cook). Staff summarized the audit’s main findings: updates and additional signage in several buildings; the middle-school intercom system does not reach all parts of the building and needs replacement; and two buildings (elementary and intermediate) allow visitor entry that gives access beyond the main office, a security gap the district plans to address. The district noted it has submitted a grant application to support intercom replacement but that federal grant activity was delayed by a federal government shutdown and funding decisions are pending.
On transportation, staff described annual vehicle inspections and a two-week monitoring period the Nebraska Department of Transportation runs to document vehicles that pass school-bus stop arms; the district records and reports stop-arm violations as required.
Ending: The district will act on audit recommendations that can be implemented quickly (signage and other minor corrections) and continue pursuing funding for larger projects (intercom replacement and office-entry modifications). The board did not take formal action during the update.