From the Desk of Dr. Mark Rollefson, Superintendent of the Yorkville Joint #2 School District
March 4, 2022 | Issue #2
Safety and Security

Parents, grandparents, staff members, and students expect our students and staff to be safe at school. In fact, the entire community expects this. 

Shortly after the Parkland Florida school shootings, the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) changed statutory language mandating schools to have up-to-date crisis plans. These plans are required to be on file through a secure portal with the DOJ.  

Additionally, the DOJ mandates the following for each public and private school in Wisconsin:
  • These plans must include local law enforcement in the development and/or approval of the contents.
  • Local law enforcement must review these plans a minimum of once every other year.
  • Local law enforcement must participate with school officials in building and grounds site visits annually, providing recommendations for safety improvements.
  • School Districts must perform a minimum of one emergency drill per year (e.g. intruder, active shooter, bomb threat).
  • School districts must upload through the secure portal to the DOJ the details of the drill, including a synopsis of what was learned.

Statute has been very clear over the years what topics Boards of Education can and should discuss during closed session meetings. For transparency and accountability purposes, the vast majority of school board agenda items are open session topics, thereby open to the public. Wisconsin legislators recognized the importance of high quality and mandatory safety plans. Legislators also recognized that if such a plan is shared with the public or available on websites, this may result in a breach of security. In other words, we do not want a disturbed individual to have access to school safety plans.  

As such, WI statutory language added to the narrow list of topics that can be discussed and voted upon during closed session (closed to the public) by school boards. That is, the discussion and approval of the Crisis Plan.  

I am happy to report that the Yorkville Joint #2 School District Crisis Response Plan has gone through a major revision. The Board of Education reviewed the plan during closed session and after two meetings, approved it.
It should be noted that we reached out to local law enforcement officials in September 2021 to do a crunched version of the timeline above, to bring our current plan up to speed. As such, the entire plan was re-written in the fall of 2021 with the help of local officials, and then submitted to the Board of Education for approval in December and January. We will now be on track to use the timeline cited above.

Although the actual plan is secure (not available to the public for safety reasons) a synopsis of contents included are provided below.

Prevention and Mitigation - Includes anti-bullying programs, criminal background checks, cameras, communication, counseling services, deliveries, doors (internal and external), labeled doors, PA system, power and HVAC, signage, staff IDs, student pick up by an adult, suicide prevention and awareness, supervision, and visitors to the building - including Raptor ID checks.

Preparedness - Includes communication tools, communication topics, drills, evacuation procedures, first aid and CPR training, AED and Stop the Bleed training, students and staff with health concerns, mapping systems, notification to parents and guardians, plan review process, Safety Go Bags, staff development and training, student training, teams (Administrative, Law Enforcement, Dispensing Medications, Medical Emergency Response, NVCI, and Pupil Services) and the necessary training for these teams.

Response - Including Holds, Lock-In, Evacuation: Non-Bomb Threat, Evacuation: Bomb-Threat, ALICE: Active Shooter, and the Reunification Process with Parents/Guardians.

Response To - arrest of criminal indictment of a staff member, biological emergencies, bomb threat assessment, chemical spills, child abduction or missing child, death of a student or staff member, food contamination, hostage situation, injury, loitering or suspicious person, assault, utility failure, weapons on property.

Media Response - protocols, background information, do’s and don’ts, and confidentiality.

I have been in public education since 1988. Since 1998, I have served as a Principal or a Superintendent. Thirty years of that service has been in Jefferson, WI. This is my first year in Yorkville. My stance remains steadfast. I want your children, our children, our staff, our facility, and our community to be safe. It is not why we exist as an institution, but the lives of our precious people are front and center daily. I am hopeful this overview helps you know the sincere efforts are not superficial. They are deep. 

Dr. Mark Rollefson - Superintendent of Yorkville Joint #2 School District.
Staff Training

Remaining in the theme of safety and security, the Staff Professional Development held on Friday, February 25th was all about safety and security. All employees in our district, including the teaching staff, custodians, office staff, and aides participated. Also invited with many participating were substitute teachers, food service employees, and others who frequently work in our building.

The topics covered were as follows:
Safety Partnerships

I cannot express enough the wonderful partnerships with the Racine County Sheriff’s Department and the Village of Yorkville Emergency Management Team. Deputy David Fischer of the Sheriff’s Department and Joshua Jamison of the Village of Yorkville joined us for site visits of our buildings and grounds, reviewed and approved our newly updated Crisis Response Plan, attended and participated in our December Emergency Drill with students and staff, and provided excellent training at the above noted February 25 Staff Professional Development day.

It is truly impressive that the Village of Yorkville has an Emergency Response Team, led by Joshua Jamison. Thank You!
Yorkville staff training in Stop the Bleed, Non-Violent Crisis Intervention (NVCI) and CPR/AED.
Dr. Mark Rollefson
Superintendent
Yorkville Joint #2 School District

18621 Washington Avenue
Union Grove, WI 53182
(262) 878-3759
Yorkville Joint #2 School District https://www.yorkville.k12.wi.us/