Wednesday, June 9, 2010

PORTLAND, OR - Visitor management practices are "center stage" in the Portland Public Schools after a Skyline Elementary School student disappeared last Friday during the school's science fair.

KATU.com reports that visitors are now required to sign-in upon entering the school. In addition, school officials are looking into security procedures for releasing students as they leave school.

7-year-old Kyron Horman disappeared last Friday morning. He was last seen walking around with his stepmother to view science fair projects around 8:45 a.m., according to CBS News.

Kyron Horman and his step-mother, Terri Moulton Horman, arrived at Skyline Elementary School around 8 a.m. Friday and attended a science fair at the school. Around 8:45 a.m. Terri said goodbye to Kyron and watched the second-grader walk down the hallway toward his classroom. Police say that the last time the boy was seen was about 9 a.m. At 3:45 p.m., when the school bus arrived at Kyron's stop without him on board, his step-mom called the school. She was told he was marked "absent" by his teacher. She called 9-1-1 just before 4 p.m. and the search effort was launched. Portland schools then sent an automated message to parents in the school district that the boy was missing. Local police walked the school grounds with K-9 tracking teams, searched every room and closet inside the school, and even checked the roof.

How effective are your visitor management practices? How do they change during special events? Please post your thoughts.

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

CARMEL, IN - According to recent news reports, the family of a 14-year-old Carmel High School student, who alleges being abused by other student athletes, is planning to sue the Carmel Clay School District for $2.2 million. The investigation into the alleged abuse, which was said to have occurred on a school bus and in a locker room, has been going on for months. The four student athletes who have been accused of the abuse were initally arrested and released on bond. They were also suspended from school.

What safety issues and/or questions does a story like this bring to your mind? What measures have you put in place to address the monitoring of difficult areas such as buses and locker rooms?