Superintendent's Memo #144-09

COMMONWEALTH of VIRGINIA
Department of Education

May 22, 2009

TO: Division Superintendents

FROM: Patricia I. Wright, Superintendent of Public Instruction

SUBJECT: School Safety Audit Requirements for 2009-10

The 2009-10 Virginia School Safety Survey is due to the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) by September 25, 2009. The Code of Virginia (§ 22.1-279.8 and § 9.1-184) stipulates that a safety survey be submitted annually to DCJS by each public school and division. In accordance with the Code, and to assist DCJS with completing the Virginia School Safety Annual Results report, each superintendent shall provide:

• Division contact information
• An updated list of schools in the division
• A notification to school principals concerning the survey time frame (August 24 – September 25)
• Confirmation of each school survey data submission to DCJS before the deadline via the survey management system (“Survey Manager”), available on the website at www.dcjs.virginia.gov/surveySupport/schoolAudit/.

A username and password to access the “Survey Manager” website will be mailed to each superintendent in the near future. The site provides additional survey information including:

• Description of the survey
• Authority of the school safety center at the Department of Criminal Justice Services 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

The online survey will be available as of August 24, 2009, at the above-mentioned website. Principals must complete the survey by September 25, 2009, 5 p.m., in order to be in compliance and to be included in the Virginia School Safety Survey Report for the 2009-10 school year. The attachment provides additional detail about the survey process.

Questions regarding the School Safety Audit Survey may be directed to Donna Bowman via e-mail at Donna.Bowman@dcjs.virginia.gov or telephone (804)371-6506.

PIW / JAB / nc

Attachment

a. Instructions for Using the Survey Manager website (PDF)