Welcome to the Wisconsin Safe & Healthy Schools Center Newsletter
Vision: Every Child Safe, Healthy and Connected
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| Wisconsin Safe and Healthy Schools |
Conference Re-Cap & AODA Funding Updates
submitted by Carol Zabel, Western Regional Coordinator, CESA #10
On December 5, 6 & 7, 2012 the Department of Public Instruction hosted another Building the Heart of Successful Schools. From the preconference featuring internationally known speakers on cyberbullying to keynote speakers on improving health and academic success through school connectedness and all the break outs in between, this year's conference was one of the best ever! It's hard to believe with all this good AODA prevention work going on in our state that the remaining funding is in jeopardy.
During her remarks to kick off the conference, Assistant State Superintendent Carolyn Stanford Taylor shared the following information:
I want to share news of some concern to us regarding the possible threat to our largest remaining AODA funding source. Through a request from another state agency, the appropriation that funds the 50 or so AODA grants this year is at some risk of being taken away from DPI's control and reallocated. Since a number of state agencies currently share in the proceeds of a penalty assessment attached to certain fines and forfeitures, the budget proposal, if adopted and included in the final 2013-15 biennial budget bill, would eliminate the funding used to support those grants, as well as 4 positions within our department. We wanted you to be aware of the threat to these resources, and to let you know of our efforts to ensure they continue to be available to our department and to schools.
On January 15, 2013, Steve Fernan, Assistant Director of the Student Services/Prevention and Wellness Team and DPI, shared the following email:
As many of you learned at the "Building the Heart of Successful Schools' conference in December, a budget proposal from the Wisconsin Department of Justice, if adopted, would redirect funds currently used to support grants like the ones your district is receiving, to other budget priorities. The DPI has gone on record in opposition of this proposed reallocation of funding. While the department takes no position on the merits of the program for which these redirected funds would support, our concerns are centered around the impacts that the loss of these resources would have on Wisconsin schools and students.
...the loss of these funds would eliminate the department's ability to award the grants that your district uses to carry out its AODA prevention efforts, as well as reduce the leadership the department provides to pupil services staff in districts throughout our state. It is unclear at this time if the proposal to reallocate these funds will be included in the Executive Budget Bill that the Governor's office is currently preparing. You may want to share your thoughts on this matter with the Governor's staff, to insure that the voices of those whose programs would be impacted, are heard.
If you are interested in contacting the Governor's staff, the following link will allow you to send an email:
http://walker.wi.gov/contact-us
NOW is the time to act!
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School Safety Included in "Bully Bill"
submitted by Jackie Schoening, Central Regional Coordinator, CESA #6
Schools safety requirements included in the "Bully Bill":
Effective May 27, 2013 Wisconsin Statute sec. 118.07 requires both public and private schools to have in effect a school safety plan for every school in the district. Public school boards and the governing bodies of private schools must create the plan with active participation from appropriate parties such as law enforcement officials, fire fighters, school administrators, teachers, pupil services professionals, and mental health professionals. The required elements of a safety plan include procedures for (1) emergency prevention and mitigation, (2) preparedness, (3) response, and (4) recovery. School Boards and the governing body of each private school must review the plan at least every three years after the plan goes into effect.
The plan must identify persons who are to receive training on the plan's procedures, the frequency of the training, and the methods for conducting safety incident drills. The board or governing body retains the discretion in determining who is to receive the school safety plans training. The decision is to be based upon the prioritized needs, risks, and vulnerabilities.
Public and private schools must conduct drills to practice the procedures prescribed under the safety plan at least two times per year. School safety incident drills may be substituted for any of the other required drills (fire, tornado, or other hazards)
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DPI Updates from the Student Services Wellness and Prevention Department |
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Wisconsin School Health Award Application Available
Please visit the Wisconsin School Health Award website to learn how to apply http://sspw.dpi.wi.gov/sspw_wischoolhealthaward. A school can achieve one of four award levels: bronze, silver, gold, and platinum. Dates to Remember: *Award Application Due: March 15, 2013, Award Presentations will be in May, 2013. All schools applying for an award will need to pre-register online.
AODA Grantwriting Workshops & Deadlines
AODA/OTP Workshops are set for the end of February/beginning of March. AODA grant applications are due in hard copy (original, plus 3 additional copies) to the DPI on Friday, April 19, 2013. Notification of the results of the competition will be sent to districts in early June. The grant period runs from July 1, 2013, to June 30, 2015. Contingent upon State budget funding. More information available: http://sspw.dpi.wi.gov/sspw_aodaprog
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In the spring of 2008, a new Wisconsin law governing school-based youth suicide prevention was passed by the legislature and signed by Governor Doyle. Wisconsin statute, s. 115.365, Assistance to schools for suicide prevention programs, requires that, "Each school board and the governing body of each private school annually shall inform their professional staff of the resources available from the department and other sources regarding suicide prevention." It also requires the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) to create a model notice of suicide prevention resources and services available in the state. We encourage districts to use this model notice with all staff members; anyone who has a relationship with a student should be able to recognize suicide warning signs and know how to respond.
There are a variety of changes districts can easily make to customize this model notice, including the addition of any local resources. Consider providing information about local mental health providers, county mental health boards and available crisis services, and local chapters of the organizations already listed. None of the material is covered by copyright; districts are free to put the notice on district letterhead and to make copies or forward it electronically to anyone. More information and the model notice is available on the DPI' website: http://sspw.dpi.wi.gov/sspw_spwilaws
QPR stands for Question, Persuade, and Refer -- 3 simple steps that anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide. Just as people trained in CPR and the Heimlich Maneuver help save thousands of lives each year, people trained in QPR learn how to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to question, persuade, and refer someone to help. Each year thousands of Americans, like you, are saying "Yes" to saving the life of a friend, colleague, sibling, or neighbor. QPR can be learned in our Gatekeeper course in as little as one hour.
A Training of Trainers will be offered in a number of locations around the state. Please look for more information on our website: www.wishschools.org.
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Warm Regards,
Tracy Herlitzke
Director, Wisconsin Safe & Healthy Schools Center
The Wisconsin Safe & Healthy Schools Center is a collaborative project between the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) and the CESA Statewide Network (CSN).
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Quick Links
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The Faces of Wisconsin Safe and Healthy School Center
Director: Tracy Herlitzke
Phone: 608-786-4838
North (CESA 5, 9, 12)
Coordinator: Lynn Verage
715-453-2141
West (CESA 4, 10, 11)
Coordinator: Carol Zabel
715-720-2145
Central (CESA 2, 3, 6)
Coordinator: Jackie Schoening
920-236-0515
East (CESA 1, 7, 8)
Coordinator: Christine Kleiman
920-465-2139
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