F ACI LI T I ES & O P E R ATION S
Seven Sun Prairie Schools Earn “Healthy Kids, Healthy Schools” Awards
Our District’s Wellness Committee continues to do great work in our schools. In December, seven of our schools received “Healthy Kids, Healthy Schools” awards. The awards are provided through the Healthy Kids Collaborative of Dane County, recognizing schools that have supported wellness at a high level for both students and staff. Our schools completed assessments to gauge their activities in the following three areas: food, physical activity, and overall health and well-being.
District Continues to Focus on School Safety The Sun Prairie Area School District is committed to maintaining safe schools in order to establish a positive learning environment for students, staff, and community members. Much work has been done over the past few years to improve security. In fact, the District has invested nearly a million dollars in improvements over the past two years, due in large part to the Department of Justice School Safety Grant Program: •
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The District ordered and installed consistent entry signage at each building. In addition, we have implemented visitor management processes with the installation of audio-visual intercoms and online screening software. All front office staff have been trained in the visitor entry management policies and procedures. The District has invested in other preventative measures, including updated digital twoway radios and additional video surveillance cameras.
At the Wisconsin School Safety Coordinators Association Annual Conference, Shelley Joan Weiss was awarded the “Coordinator of the Year” award for her work in Sun Prairie and across the state. Sun Prairie had a big delegation, including the first students to attend the conference in its history.
District staff have undergone proactive training related to childhood trauma. Trauma informed care is an approach that recognizes the presence of trauma symptoms and acknowledges the role that trauma has played in people’s lives. This training has helped staff members to recognize students who are suffering from extreme stress that impacts their well-being and to work with those students before something serious occurs.
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Equipment designed to improve our response during an emergency has been purchased. This includes the installation of “Stop the Bleed” kits at all school sites and tourniquets in all District vehicles. Additional training in CPR and “Stop the Bleed” has been provided.
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Other training has helped ensure that all staff members know how to respond to an active threat. Online ALICE safety training has been provided to all District staff members. ALICE, the gold-standard for active threat preparedness, emphasizes proactive strategies to improve the chances of survival during an active shooter event.
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The District is grateful for a solid partnership with the Sun Prairie Police Department and other local law enforcement agencies. Our students and staff benefit from the training and rapid response of our partners.
Coordination of District safety procedures falls under the responsibility of the Director of Student Policy & School Operations. Broader feedback on security is obtained through the District’s Safety & Security Oversight Committee, which consists of a variety of administrators, teachers, staff members, and community partners. This group meets quarterly to review current topics in school safety and to guide the District’s implementation of safety measures.
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THE SUN PRAIRIE EXPERIENCE - News from the Sun Prairie Area School District | SPRING 2020