BASA Member Update 3.2.18

BASA Member Update March 2, 2018

1. Hot Topics

• ECOT’s Closing and High School Equivalence Exams • State Legislative Conference – Tuesday, March 6

2. 2017 Management Guide 3. Communicating on School Safety and Preparing for Walkouts

HOT TOPICS

ECOT’s Closing and High School Equivalence Exams With the closing of the Electronic Classroom of Tomorrow (ECOT) in January, many former ECOT students who were between the ages of 16 and 19 sought to enroll in their school districts of residence in order to immediately withdraw and take one of the high school equivalence exams. Obviously, this would negatively impact graduation rates in those school districts. The education management organizations worked with the Ohio Department of Education to address this situation, and last Friday ODE issued this guidance: http://education.ohio.gov/Topics/Testing/Ohio-Options-for-Adult-Diploma/HSE Please share this information with the appropriate staff members in your district. We are also grateful to ODE for its assistance in addressing this situation. State Legislative Conference – Tuesday, March 6 The annual State Legislative Conference (co-sponsored by BASA, OASBO, and OSBA) will be held next Tuesday, March 6, at the Sheraton Columbus next to the Statehouse. In addition to hearing an update on current legislation, there are also the opportunities to have lunch with your legislators and/or their aides and to visit legislators in their offices. For more information, please click on this link .

The Management Guide for School Administrators ********************2017 Edition********************

The Management Guide for School Administrators updates all education-related legislation adopted between July 2016 and July 2017.

Now in electronic book format!

NEW for 2017

Updated Calendar Year of Duties New Schedule for Property Value Reappraisal and Updates New Graduation Requirements All New References to the Ohio Revised Code Organized Alphabetically by Topic Over Fifty (50) References and Resources, Including:  Operating Levy Options  Specific Offenses Barring Employment or Licensure

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 The Management Guide for School Administrators has been completely reviewed and updated for 2017. The new edition is now formatted in an easy, more efficient layout to minimize the time it takes to find answers to questions like:

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 When and where are districts required to display the state and/or national mottoes?

College Credit Plus And Much More!

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 What kind of facsimile signature is not per- mitted on vouchers, checks, or other instru- ments for the payment of money?

 What is the annual deadline for conducting the mandatory fire drill?

The 2017 Management Guide for School Administrators

Name:________________________________ Title:____________________________________

District:_______________________________ Email:___________________________________

Address:_____________________________________ City/Zip:__________________________

Ph: ( ) ____________________________ Fax: ( ) ________________________________

$99.00 Per Subscription Number Ordered: _______ Total Amount Due: $_______________ ❑ Check enclosed (payable to BASA)

❑ Purchase Order Attached ❑ Please send an invoice

Please fax to BASA at: 614-846-4081 or mail to: 8050 N. High Street, Suite 150, Columbus, OH 43235

Questions? Call 614-846-4080

Communicating on School Safety and Preparing for Walkouts

National events like the school shooting in Parkland, Florida quickly become local ones for schools. In the wake of these highly emotional and devastating events, what should a school system do? Parents and communities are turning to their local schools for responses. It’s understandable because these events hit home and could impact anyone, anywhere. Here are some suggestions on how to share information with your community and respond to questions: • Communicate with parents as to what you are doing on regular basis to keep your schools safe. Without divulging details about your safety plans, do mention things like regular ALICE drills, security cameras and about using a single entrance/exit for visitors. Share how you partner with local law enforcement. Let them know that these events are in the forefront of your concerns, too. • Be sure to include information on how everyone can keep the schools safe. It’s not just up to the district to keep students safe: It is up to everyone. State how. What is true in our airports is also true in our schools: “If see or hear something, say something.” Encourage families and students to talk to a teacher or administrator or use the district’s published hotline if they see or hear something they feel is wrong. Also, remind them that the district will be extra vigilant in checking for visitor badges and that all visitors must wear one visibly. Regardless of how well known they may be in the building, it is their identification to a teacher or staff member that they are cleared to be in the school. • Remember staff and include them on communication efforts. Staff members are also impacted by safety discussions and are often on the front lines answering questions within the community. Be sure to keep them informed so they can feel comfortable in the school environment and be an ally in addressing community concerns. Planned Walkouts? Be Prepared. The communication needs do not end with letting parents know what you are doing on a daily basis. More is coming your way and soon. The Women’s March Youth is sponsoring a National School Walkout on March 14. The walkout encourages students, teachers, school administrators, parents and others to walkout of school for 17 minutes at 10 a.m. Also, on Friday, April 20, the anniversary of Columbine, the Network for Public Education is promoting a “national day of action” and encouraging acts of protests in and around their schools, through organized sit ins, walkouts and marches.

The handling of these require significant research and consideration by school systems so that you can plan and have a clear, coordinated district response. Where to start?

• It is important to note that students and staff cannot just walk out. It is just not that simple. Be sure to check your policies with respect to students and staff and check in with your legal counsel. Know what each group can and cannot do. You can consider providing alternate ways for students to be involved by pushing it into the classroom as a learning experience.

• Safety comes first – always. A walkout can greatly compromise the safety of those involved. If students are walking out to say they do not feel safe at school, then it can be argued that they are more exposed outside of the building during a pre-arranged time and date for a walkout. There are other considerations, too. If you are allowing students to walk out, then where do they go in the event of an emergency and what are your safety plans surrounding that? Are you allowing parents and others onto your site to protest? What if others come to counter-protest? Have you worked with law enforcement on your plans? There are so many considerations so really think through the pros and cons along with the what-if scenarios.

• Be aware that this is a political issue, but it should not be for schools. This is about safety, safety, safety so keep the conversation focused.

• Once you determine your district’s response and actions surrounding these events, DO communicate with your local law enforcement, teachers and staff, parents and students. They want and deserve guidance through a clear, coordinated district response. Send a letter to parents letting them know the district’s plans and a separate letter to staff. Staff need to know more about what their rights are as they have different protections and responsibilities than students.

Authored by: Carole Dorn-Bell, Jennifer Economus and Amanda Morris with Allerton Hill Consulting (allerton-hill.com, 1-800-549-2285, @outreach_expert). Allerton Hill is proud to be a communications partner with BASA.