COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

P.O. BOX 2120

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120

SUPTS. MEMO NO. 151

August 3, 2007

INFORMATIONAL

TO:

Division Superintendents

 

FROM:

Billy K. Cannaday, Jr.

Superintendent of Public Instruction

 

SUBJECT:

School Safety Audit Requirements for 2007-08

 

The Virginia Center for School Safety (VCSS) in the Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) will be conducting the Virginia School Safety Survey for the new school year 2007-08, in order to meet the legislative requirements described in the Code of Virginia (22.1-279.8 and 9.1-184). This years safety survey requirements include a school-level survey only.

 

While there is no division-level survey component, superintendents (or their designees) are requested to ensure that division contact information is provided and that their divisions lists of schools are current. Superintendents must confirm the submittal of each schools survey before the designated deadline via the survey management system (Survey Manager) available on the website. The secure safety survey website address is:

www.dcjs.virginia.gov/surveySupport/schoolAudit/

 

When visiting the website, additional survey information will be available to superintendents and principals including:

 

  • Description of the survey
  • Authority of the VCSS to conduct the survey
  • Link to the survey and the Survey Manager
  • List of survey questions (that can be reviewed before starting the actual survey)
  • Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
  • Instructional and technical assistance
  • Terms and definitions
  • Related Code of Virginia references

 

Access to the website will be available on August 20, 2007. Individual letters are being mailed to the division superintendents by the VCSS that will include the user identification and password needed to access the Survey Manager system.

 

All surveys must be completed by 5:00 p.m. on September 21, in order to be in compliance and to be included in the Virginia School Safety Survey Report for the 2007-08 school year. The attachment provides additional detail about the survey process.

 

Questions regarding the survey may be directed to Donna Bowman, director of the VCSS, via e-mail Donna.Bowman@dcjs.virginia.gov or telephone (804)371-6506 or Arlene Cundiff, coordinator of the safe and drug-free schools program, via e-mail Arlene.Cundiff@doe.virginia.gov or telephone (804)225-2871.

 

BKCJr/ADC/nc

 

Attachment

 

http://www.doe.virginia.gov/administrators/superintendents_memos/2007/inf151a.pdf