COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

P.O. BOX 2120

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120

SUPTS. MEMO NO. 178

August 8, 2008

INFORMATIONAL

TO:	Division Superintendents
FROM:	Billy K. Cannaday, Jr. Superintendent of Public Instruction
SUBJECT:	School Safety Audit and Crisis Management Plan Certification Requirements for 2008-09

 

The purpose of this memo is to provide information for completing the 2008-09 school safety survey and crisis management plan certification requirements. 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 2008-09, to meet the legislative requirements described in the Code of Virginia (22.1-279.8 and 9.1-184). Each superintendent is required to manage the division's contact information, update the division's list of schools, notify school principals about the survey time frame (August 25 September 26), and confirm the submittal of each school's 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/.

 

Additional survey information is available on the website 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 survey will be available beginning August 25, 2008. Individual letters will be mailed to the division superintendents by the VCSS in the near future. The letter will include the user identification and password that superintendents will need in order to access the Survey Manager system.

 

Principals must complete the survey by September 26, 2008, 5 p.m., in order to be in compliance and to be included in the Virginia School Safety Survey Report for the 2008-09 school year. Completion of the survey by each school principal is the only requirement to be in compliance with the school safety audit portion of the legislation. Any other processes conducted at the school do not have to be reported to the Virginia Center for School Safety or to the Virginia Department of Education. The attachment provides additional details about the survey process.

 

The school crisis, emergency management, and medical emergency response plan portion of the Code of Virginia (22.1-279.8) requires that the division superintendent certify to the Virginia Center for School Safety that the local school board has reviewed the division schools' crisis plans by August 31^st of each year. Please refer to Superintendent's Memo 96, Annual Review of Crisis Plan, dated April 18, 2008, for additional information or visit the school safety audit website listed above.

 

Questions regarding the survey or the crisis management plan certification requirement may be directed to Donna Bowman, manager of the VCSS, via e-mail Donna.Bowman@dcjs.virginia.gov or telephone (804)371-6506.

 

Attachment

 

a. Additional Details about the 2008-09 School Safety Survey (PDF)