School will review crisis plan

Gentry School District has had crisis plan in place for several years

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

— A crisis plan is already in place in Gentry Schools, Gentry Schools superintendent Randy Barrett told school board members on Monday, but it will be reviewed to see where improvements can be made.

According to Barrett, the school district has had a plan of action in place for some time to deal with crisis situations such as school intruders, bomb threats, school shooters, firesand more. The focus of the plan has been on teacher and staff response, Barrett said.

Review plans include instructing students on what to do in a variety of crisis situations rather than just depending on teachers and staff to direct students should an emergency situation arise.

In a letter sent to school board members and published on the school website, Barrett told parents of the school crisis plan but also said the school could not guarantee students’ safety in every possible situation. To read the letter, see Page 6A.

School board members asked Barrett to review campus safety measures and ensure that all visitors to campuses were directed to enter through the front door and sign in at the office first, rather than entering side doors.

The issue was raised again as a result of last Friday’s school shooting in Newtown, Conn., in which students, teachers and administrators were killed by a lone intruder.

Barrett explained that schoolstaff takes every precaution to protect children entrusted to their care but cannot protect against every possible scenario.

The Gentry School District, in cooperation with the Gentry Police Department, has a school resource officer devoted to the schools much of the time and also is regularly patrolled by police units.

In other business, the school board approved the district’s financial report for period six ofthe current school year and one transfer request for three students who have been attending in Siloam Springs to continue attending there even though they have moved into the Gentry School District.

Barrett told the board the district was in good financial condition and oncourse to end the school year in sound shape.

Federal/curriculum coordinator Judy Winslett explained the new accountability standards for the schools since the requirements under the No Child Left Behind Act have been waived.

In round-table discussion, board member Coye Cripps said the school district needed to be a better steward and make a better effort to keep its propertyin good repair, mentioning a number of issues at the Carl Gym, such as windows left open with the heat running, fan louvers stuck open, a ceiling panel left down and loose trim.

Board chairman Jim Barnes said he had received complaints and asked that band and choir concerts not be scheduled on Wednesday nights or Sundays in the future. He suggested Saturdays as an alternative if no othertimes were available.

Also discussed was the appointment of a committee to coordinate and solicit donations for the soon-to-be-constructed multi-purpose athletic complex. The board suggested that athletic director Brian Little appoint a committee.

Also suggested was the formation of a foundation which could receive money and gifts for the school district.

News, Pages 1 on 12/19/2012