School
board gives nod to crisis plan
Updated protocol includes section
on dealing with suicide situations.
Thursday, August 25, 2005 • By ANDREA EILENBERGER
• The Express-Times
HACKETTSTOWN -- District administrators
hope they never have to face a situation that jeopardizes
the safety of their students or staff, but in the event of a
crisis situation, they will be ready.
During a board of education meeting
Wednesday night, members approved the district's crisis
management plan.
"(The plan) covers traumatic events,
whether it is a death or injury, a facility issue, or other
emergency," said board President Bruce Smith.
The district has had a plan in place for
years, but is required to review it on an annual basis,
officials said. They declined to comment on the specifics of
the plan.
District administrators, the police
department and the Warren County Prosecutor's Office receive
copies of the plan, according to Superintendent Bob
Gratz.
The updated plan includes a section on
suicide and suicide prevention, including a risk assessment
system that crisis team members can use to evaluate the
possibility that a district member is suicidal, Gratz
said.
Each building in the district has a set
crisis team, which includes administrators, counselors and
child study team members.
"There are different types of issues we
need to be prepared for, and that goes beyond the two
required fire drills a year," Gratz said.
While officials address situations as
they come up, the annual review allows them to reinforce the
policies set forth by the plan.
Also Wednesday, board members approved a
federal grant application for $355,675.
The district receives money from the
Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act
annually, according to district Business Administrator Mike
Simonetta. The amount of money officials are applying for is
the amount the district is entitled to based on state
calculations, he said.
The money will be used to supplement the
cost of special education, including materials, equipment,
special education teachers' salaries and other special
services.
Also Wednesday, board members approved
Bob Grauso, who is also the district's director of
athletics, as head boys basketball coach for the 2005-06
school year.
Reporter Andrea Eilenberger can be reached at
908-475-8044 or by e-mail at aeilenberger@express-times.com.
© 2005 The Express-Times. Used with
permission.
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