When a School Crisis Occurs What Parents and Stakeholders Want to Know

by Sharp, Helen M.

• ISBN13: 9781578864195
• ISBN10: 1578864194
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2006-05-12
• Publisher: R&L Education

Summary

Administrators must respond to parents, students, and stakeholders in the wake of a school crisis in order to inform them, allay fears, and counteract rumors. Most often school superintendents, principals, deans, and school security officers seek a concise raference for help in writing messages when a crisis occurs. This book, which includes completed models and sample letter responses, addresses daily issues ranging from bullying to student dropout rates and it offers more than thirty completed documents to work with, adapt, and utilize. Using or reworking the examples provided here will meet the leader's immediate need for appropriate, well-written, and timely communication. Book jacket.

Table of Contents

Introduction	v
1 The Decision to Respond at Another Time or Not to Respond	1	(2)
2 Consider a District Communication Policy	3	(2)
3 Essential Writing Terms, and Suggestions for Writing Successful, Efficient Messages	5	(4)
4 Illustrations of Terms and Suggestions	9	(3)
5 Appropriate School Apparel	12	(3)
6 Principal's Letter to Stakeholders	15	(2)
7 School Building Safety	17	(2)
8 Sample Letter from Administrator to Parents about School Safety	19	(3)
9 Principal's News Story (Stakeholders' Information)	22	(2)
10 Weather Conditions and Potential Hazards	24	(3)
11 Respect for Adults as well as for All Other Students	27	(2)
12 Reassignment to Other Schools	29	(3)
13 Some Parents' Concerns Lead to the Desire to Enroll Their Children in Private and Parochial Schools	32	(3)
14 "The Administrator's Focus" (Title of Monthly Feature)	35	(2)
15 Students Who Verbalize Their Beliefs or Evangelize	37	(2)
16 Instructor's Leave of Absence	39	(2)
17 Student Deaths	41	(2)
18 Changes in the Alternative Placement School-within-the-School	43	(2)
19 Superintendent's Internal Bulletin (Bulletin Requesting Information for Stakeholders)	45	(2)
20 Students Who Take Drugs	47	(2)
21 (Sometimes Problematic) Parents	49	(4)
22 Spotlighting School Successes	53	(2)
23 Graduation	55	(2)
24 Superintendent's Letter to Community Members and Teaching Staff	57	(3)
25 Bus Behavior	60	(2)
26 Superintendent's Newspaper Column about Security Officer	62	(2)
27 A Student with a Weapon at School	64	(2)
28 Death of an Elementary Student's Mother	66	(2)
29 Death of an Elementary Student's Older Brother	68	(2)
30 A High School Student's Suicide	70	(4)
31 Potential Student Dropouts	74	(2)
32 A Student Brawl	76	(2)
33 A Building Evacuation	78	(2)
34 A Locker Search	80	(2)
35 A Fact Sheet for Media Representatives	82	(2)
36 Yearly Proms	84	(3)
37 Gangs	87	(2)
38 Are Our Schools Safe?	89	(4)
39 Old(er) Buildings Are Usually More Secure Than New Ones: They Were Built Better	93	(2)
About the Author	95