District Administration - April 2008 - (Page 57)

than notifying parents after the ﬁrst attempts, the assistant principal invited the boy into his oﬃce—to read scripture. The court reminded the school’s defense team that the “intervening force” shield applies only to unforeseeable tragedies. “We do not believe that a prudent person would have needed a crystal ball to see that Shawn needed help,” the court ruled, “and that if he didn’t get it soon, he might attempt suicide again.” Nor was Polk the ﬁrst warning shot. In 1985, another federal appellate court held local police and school oﬃcials negligent for their handling of a 1982 incident that ended with the suicide of a 14-year-old student (Kelson v. City of Springﬁeld, Oregon). School management journals also have sounded the alarm. The American School Board Journal May 2001 cover story reviewed the legal risks for schools with regard to suicide. In 2005, the American School Health Association adopted a resolution demanding nationwide reform. Taking a stand, of course, should not be confused with taking action. Resolutions and “awareness” campaigns are no substitute for written protocols and expertly designed staﬀ training. The grim numbers—the 2005 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance survey found that 8.4 percent of all high school students had attempted suicide—demonstrate past mistakes and current needs. But statistics alone do not teach parents and educators how to prevent youth suicide. Too many communities wait for the ﬁrst suicide—or the second or third— before asking the right questions: Where do we start? Who are the experts? Which prevention programs really work? The answers and the experts are readily available. Instead of spinning wheels— or reinventing them—school staﬀ should examine the evidence-based programs already in place around the nation and already saving lives. The Suicide Prevention Resource Center and the NASP’s “best practice” textbooks are just two tools www.DistrictAdministration.com available to educators who understand that school-based prevention is no longer an option but an obligation. What Schools Must Do • Establish a suicide prevention task force. It should include school counselors and psychologists, public health oﬃcials, law enforcement oﬃcials, local government, and the judiciary. The task force’s goals should not stop with “awareness” activities. It must expand community knowledge about modern prevention programs and identify barriers to change. • Teach “lethality assessment” techniques to all school mental health professionals. Asking the right questions will allow them to distinguish the moderately depressed students from those at imminent risk of suicide. • Adopt written staﬀ protocols regarding notiﬁcation of parents and contacting referring agencies. Protocols should outline follow-up support options and stress the importance of staﬀ teamwork. • At least yearly, brief the board of education on modern prevention and early detection practices. These should include recent advances in depression screening for children. Distribute written brieﬁngs to school staﬀ. DA Scott Poland is a contributing writer for District Administration and prevention division director for the American Association of Suicidology. David Chartrand’s upcoming book Angels in the Park examines how school and public health oﬃcials handled an epidemic of youth suicides in one Midwestern community. A Fast Track to a Traditional Ed.D. Seton Hall University’s nationally recognized, accelerated doctoral program will allow you to complete your studies in just 10 weekends and two, four-week sessions over two years. In fact, more than 175 K-12 administrators in 25 states have already successfully earned their degrees and achieved career advancement. Now accepting applications for the April 2009 cohort. Loans are available to cover the entire cost of the program regardless of financial need. “Seton Hall’s executive doctoral program was ideally designed to ensure that I could complete my degree in just two years.” C. Lauren Schoen, Ed.D. ’06 Superintendent Rochelle Park, NJ 400 South Orange Ave. • South Orange, NJ 07079 www.shu.edu College of Education and Human Services 1-800-313-9833 For more information e-mail execedd@shu.edu or go to education.shu.edu/execedd April 2008 57 http://www.shu.edu http://www.education.shu.edu/execedd http://www.DistrictAdministration.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of District Administration - April 2008

District Administration - April 2008
Contents
Editor’s Letter
Letters
News Update
Technology
Facilities & Construction
Curriculum
Inside the Law
District Profile
Administrator Profile
Profit and Loss in School-Business Partnerships
The Broad Way
Big Macs for Big Grades
Hometown Success
How Well Does This Web Site Work?
Speaking Out
Crisis Response
New Products
Problem/Solution
Computer Literature
Research Center
Calendar of Events
Products Showcase
Understanding the Times

District Administration - April 2008