Preparation for college campus crises (natural disasters, violence or unrest) is discussed. Specific suggestions are made for three distinct areas of readiness: (1) response to the situation; (2) response to the students; and (3) personal response. (MSE)

Disaster response planning should be a high and ongoing priority in college administration. To ensure safety well before disaster strikes, administrators must select appropriate and adequate insurance coverage and prepare a written catastrophe plan, developed cooperatively with students, parents, and community members and reviewed by staff…

Teamwork and cooperation were the keys in restoring school service in Berkeley County (South Carolina) 17 days after Hurricane Hugo. Offers school districts tips on what to do both before an emergency strikes and in the aftermath. Lists information available from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. (MLF)

Bus disaster drills have been held all over country for years. A drill in Blairsville, Pennsylvania, taught officials important lessons: (1) keep roster of students and stops in designated area on bus, and ensure emergency workers know where location; (2) send at least three school officials to accident scene; (3) provide school officials with…

Children who experience disasters such as Hurricane Andrew in southern Florida, are prone to severe and debilitating stress. Districts can prepare by designating a disaster management commander, a search-and-rescue team, and a reuniting team. Planning should include drills, recovery, and restoration elements. (Contains 10 references.) (MLH)

An air quality problem originating with a steam leak in an improperly maintained heating system resulted in unanticipated expenses of $420,000 for the Lakeview (Michigan) School District. Indoor air quality complaints require immediate investigation and action; clear communication to parents, staff, and media representatives; competent…

School officials put a crisis communications plan into action after two Ohio students died and a third became critically ill from meningitis in May 2001. A mass immunization program prevented a major outbreak, and rumor control helped calm the public's fears. Recounts things learned from the experience. (MLF)

Provides expert guidelines on ways to keep schools and children safe from building fires, such as maintenance of exits for easy egress in emergencies, maintaining fire-protection systems, and utilizing evacuation planning and drilling. Highlights fire-safety ideas as part of school-building and renovation projects. (GR)

The need for school-appropriate applications of critical incident stress management (CISM) is noted in the literature on school crisis response. This paper presents preliminary data suggesting a School Crisis Response Team's (SCRT) usage and team needs. The SCRT was dispatched for a variety of critical incidents. Self-dispatch, followed by…

MDC's mission is to help organizations and communities close the gaps that separate people from opportunity. The organization has been working to create positive change in disadvantaged communities for 40 years--by conducting research and demonstrating effective programs at the community level. MDC focuses on three areas: education, economic and…

School leaders carry great responsibility when a crisis occurs. Understanding the significance and use of school crisis teams is vitally important and often unknowingly overlooked. This article examines the crucial role of school leaders when a crisis event occurs. Through combining existing research, case vignettes of actual events, and…

"Alabama Education News" is published monthly except for June, July, and December by the Alabama Department of Education. This publication, authorized by Section 16-2-4 of the "Code of Alabama", as recompiled in 1975, is a public service of the Alabama Department of Education designed to inform citizens and educators about…

Despite their best and frequently heroic efforts, school crisis intervention teams often find themselves unprepared for the many types of tragedies they face. This timely text prompts crisis intervention team members to reevaluate their beliefs and practices and consider a new approach to dealing with school crises. The author, a longtime school…

This article describes a program at Great Plains Technology Center that is not only serving its community's needs but it is also serving as a national pilot site. When Oklahoma's Great Plains Technology Center began developing its Law, Public Safety, Corrections and Security Cluster in 2003, the National Partnership for Careers in Law, Public…

This article profiles the winners of this year's competition for outstanding technology innovation on US college and university campuses. The winners are: (1) Rice University, Texas (virtualized networks); (2) Drexel University, Pennsylvania (rich media); (3) Harvard Business School, Massachusetts (network management); (4) Louisiana State…