Information from DHS on Project Recovery Iowa

Project Recovery Iowa
September 16, 2008
Attention: School District Administrators
Re: Information about Project Recovery Iowa

Project Recovery Iowa is working to provide emergency crisis counseling to Iowans who have been impacted by the spring and summer disasters. It is a collaborative program administered by the Iowa Department of Human Services, designed to empower those affected by disaster through educating them about disaster reactions, teaching them coping skills, assessing their individual needs and linking them to appropriate community resources.

Anyone can access support through the Iowa Concern Hotline at 1-800-447-1985. The Hotline can provide a listening ear and/or a referral to mental health services in their area. They can also assist people who have questions about legal or financial issues. Twenty-nine counties will have outreach workers who can visit with individuals face-to-face. Iowa Concern Hotline can be the point of access to connect you to this support.

Because many of our children have been affected by the disasters, either as a victim or through exposure to media, we want to make sure that the adults caring for them (parents, teachers, and caregivers) have the supports they need so they are able to appropriately care for the children. Adults experiencing stress may benefit from someone to talk to or someone to answer their questions about their children’s feelings and behaviors.

We would appreciate your support in getting our message out. We are asking that you provide the attached handout (Click here for handout) to all of the schools in your district with directions to copy and send these notes home. If schools in your districts have already sent home information on Project Recovery Iowa, it is not necessary to send these flyers out. We appreciate the opportunity to work together with schools to support your families and staff.

If you have questions about this flyer, you can contact me at email address or phone number below. If you have questions about what services and/supports are available in your area, please call the Iowa Concern Hotline to be directed to the correct agency.

Thank you for your help,
Kerry Moore Kroneman
Children's Program Manager Project Recovery
Iowa Division of Mental Health and Disability Services
Iowa Department of Human Services
kmoorekron@aol.com
515-720-3801

Middle School Math Teachers Collaborative Learning Opportunity

There will be an exciting opportunity for central Iowa middle school math teachers held on the Iowa State University campus beginning October 21, 2008. Multiple meetings will engage teachers in working together to learn, discover and communicate mathematical ideas while becoming acquainted with an effective problem solving approach.

The Central Iowa Middle School Math Teachers Circle is being sponsored by the American Institute of Mathematics, Mathematical Sciences Research Institute and the National Science Foundation in conjunction with Iowa State University. Details and information about possible stipends can be found at http://www.aea11.k12.ia.us/math.

Free Seminar at Ames AEA Office on Block Scheduling

Have you ever wondered how other school districts do block scheduling? Are you preparing for implementing a block schedule and have questions about how? Then this free seminar is for you!

Who: Schools are welcome to bring teachers, counselors and administrators to this free seminar
When: Tuesday, October 28th, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Where: AEA Office 511 South 16th Street Ames, Iowa 50010

Click here for more information and for the seminar agenda.

Level 1 Spanish Learning Opportunity

Level 1 Spanish

Target Audience: Teachers, administrators, school personnel, support staff, etc.

(Previously titled "Beginning Spanish") If you can't remember Spanish from high school or college, or if you have never taken Spanish, now is the time! This course will introduce you to the basics of Spanish pronunciation and basic conversation to help you communicate better with students, parents and community members who speak Spanish. Participants will receive the textbook "Curso Primero: Workbook for a First Course in Spanish, 2nd Edition" along with the corresponding answer book.

Activity Number: FL000992110901 Click here for the Professional Development catalog
Dates: October 22 & 29, November 5, 12 & 19, 2008 (100% attendance is required for credit.)
Times: 5:00-8:00 p.m.
Location: Johnston AEA Office, 6500 Corporate Dr., Johnston
Instructor: Marcia McPherren

Online Professional Development: Where You Are!

While we typically think of on-line offerings as those “Mandatory Reporter things,” there is a whole world out there of on-line offerings for professional development. Heartland is thrilled to offer several on-line professional development opportunities for educators. Along with the PD360 program, we have catalog courses available in Internet Safety, Discovery Education Streaming, Spanish for Educators, Meso-America, Understanding China and a host of other opportunities. Visit our Professional Development Catalog at https://prodev.aea11.k12.ia.us/4DCGI/YYYYYYYYYYYYYYSRCH to view the many offerings at Heartland.

Security Tips for Schools Hosting Polling Sites for Upcoming Election

SACRAMENTO — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell announced today that the California Department of Education has partnered with the Murrieta Valley Unified School District in Riverside County and the Office of Homeland Security to develop security tips for school sites that will be used as polling places in the November election.

"When school sites serve as polling places, it is a wonderful opportunity for students to see our democracy in action," said O'Connell. "However, this may cause concern for students over increased traffic and strangers on campus. School administrators can implement these tips to help maintain order on campus and help students feel secure, which is vital to their academic success."

Security Tips for Schools Used as Polling Sites

1. Prior to the election, brief school staff on security challenges that may arise from an increase in visitors from the community.
2. Familiarize law enforcement, medical responders, and fire and rescue personnel with your campus to identify potential evacuation points, and alert them that your school will be used as a polling place.
3. Restrict public access to only the area of the school where the polling place is located. Post adequate signage to direct voters to the polling place. Ideally the location would have its own entrances and exits.
4. Ensure that polling place workers have proper identification and that school staff and students are easily identifiable. For example, staff and students may wear school shirts on Election Day.
5. Ensure that school staff and polling place staff are aware of polling place entrances and exits.
6. Ensure that communication equipment allows transmission between school administrators and polling place workers. (Note: most poll workers/inspectors have cell phones.)
7. Review school protocols for lockdown and evacuation with your staff and polling place workers.
8. Restrooms available to voters and polling place staff should be closed to all students. Notify staff and students of the closure, and post signs on closed restrooms directing them to other facilities.
9. Review unusual occurrence protocols such as bomb threats, chemical releases, and intruder on campus.
10. Have staff conduct inspections of school grounds for suspicious items or activity prior to the beginning of school and throughout the day. Suspicious activities may include:

• People at the poll location (or in the area) who do not appear to be conducting legitimate business (i.e., loitering).
• People monitoring areas, buildings, or entrances.
• Unauthorized people in areas not open to the public.
• People requesting information with no apparent need for information.
• People wearing clothing not consistent with the weather conditions (bulky, heavy coat if the weather is warm and pleasant).
• Individual attempting to access utility locations (water, electrical, telecommunications, and information systems).

1. Provide additional security staff, or use parent volunteers, to conduct regular patrols/checks of building perimeter and grounds.
2. Keep hallways clear of lunches, backpacks, clothing, and other items.
3. Be aware of unusual vehicles parked for prolonged periods near the school. Be particularly aware of chemical odors coming from a vehicle. Consider having dashboard "permits" for poll workers' vehicles.
4. Be aware of vehicles left at the polling location containing unusual/suspicious parcels or material.
5. Be aware of substances leaking or spilling from vehicles.
6. Wherever possible, employ barriers to prevent parking within 100 feet of the polling station.

The preceding tips were based upon the experiences, insights, and collaborations of members from the three agencies, and from publicly available resources such as the National School Safety and Security Services at Election Day School Safety and School Security. These tips are intended to serve as a guide and are not a substitute for sound judgment regarding the specific threats and challenges at any particular school site.