New Proactive Measures Aim to Enhance Positive Learning Focus

Since Superintendent Dr. Bobby Webb’s arrival at Shelby County Schools eight years ago, success among students and staff alike has been nothing short of superb – no doubt a result of his commitment to positive environments for learning and working.

Board Chairman David Pickler discusses student safety during the SCS In-Service in August.

For a school system that includes more than 48,000 students and 5,000-plus employees, the task of maintaining safe and positive environments requires constant attention and a proactive mindset – proactive being the point of emphasis. Due to the increasing complexity and ever-changing nature of challenges and influences in our communities today, Dr. Webb understands that proactive planning is the most effective way to face safety-related issues.

During the 2008 school year, employees will see new proactive measures designed to ensure our learning environments remain safe and conducive to academic achievement. Additionally, these new measures should serve as a reminder that the well-being of every student, employee and partner of the SCS family is a priority.

John Aitken is SCS’ Assistant Superintendent of Student Leadership & Safety Services.

LEADERSHIP: If not already, principals will soon become very familiar with Mr. John Aitken. Mr. Aitken is the new Assistant Superintendent of Student Leadership & Safety Services. He will be overseeing all safety-related efforts, working closely with individual schools and the SCS Security team throughout the school year to make sure proper resources are in place to maintain safe campuses. “We’ll be proactive, and we’ll carry out the focus (on safety and positive learning) of our superintendent and the school board,” Aitken says.

ENHANCEMENTS: Last school year, Dr. Webb joined School Board Chairman David Pickler and other SCS stakeholders for a series of Task Force meetings organized to generate positive feedback regarding new proactive efforts to help SCS maintain safe and positive schools. So, what’s new this year?

• Mr. Aitken and Security Chief Gary Gitchell have added two new SCS officers to their staff this school year for a total of four. They’ll be in regular contact with the School Resource Officers (SROs) from the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department and municipal precincts across the County, investigating reports in order to formulate proactive plans to address needs.

• Aiphone controlled-access video entry systems have been installed at every elementary school, and middle schools are expected to be equipped with the same system by the end of the school year.

  All elementary and middle schools will have new video-controlled, swipe-card entry systems in place this year.

• Elementary schools now have a separate controlled-access system in place for after-hour entry. Staff members must swipe a coded badge to gain entry, and doors lock behind them.

• Surveillance camera systems at all middle and high schools have been upgraded to more accurately monitor activity on and around campuses.

• The new Visitor Management system is being piloted at three schools and is expected to be installed at all schools later in the school year. Visitors at all schools will be asked to show their driver’s license in order to visit any area of the school. Computers used to scan the licenses can check a visitor’s background using the state’s child offender registry within seconds.

The Visitor Management system checks school visitors against the state’s child offender registry.

LOOKING AHEAD: Mr. Aitken is currently in the planning and developmental stages of another new and very useful proactive safety measure that would rely heavily on the involvement of parents and community partners. It’s a project called “Watchful Eyes.” It’s basically a community watchdog program that would empower approved groups, parents and community partners aligned with school leaders to reinforce campus security efforts. Mr. Aitken says his goal is to have Watchful Eyes in place by the end of the first semester.