In response to recent events not only locally, but nationwide, the New Philadelphia City Schools has organized two Task Forces to look at how safety and security of all students and staff can be improved in all of our buildings. The first task force is focusing on Mental Health. This group is comprised of 15 community members, including staff, parents, and mental health organization professionals. The second task force is focused on the physical facilities of our district, both inside and out, and the organizational aspects of the buildings. This group is comprised of 15 community members, including staff, parents, and local first responders.
The two Safety & Security Task Forces had their first meetings last week. Each group started with a discussion of current practices and areas of strengths. From there, the groups shared concerns and identified any potential area of weakness. The meetings continued by having brainstorming sessions in which potential solutions were brought up to the group. Finally, the discussions focused on the next steps that should be taken in order to allow for deeper investigations into potential solutions. Both task forces determined the immediate next step will include an assessment of current needs and/or risks. The Task Forces will reconvene in late April or early May after the needs assessments are completed.