School Security Around The Nation: Washington, MO

School Safety Director Is Hired to Shepherd ‘Cutting Edge’ Program

A Union police officer has been selected as the school safety director to lead a new “cutting edge” countywide program that is said to be the first of its kind in the state of Missouri.

Kevin Anderson, who has served as a school resource officer in the Union School District for about 13 years, was selected for the pilot program by county officials.

“Schools require a clear set of emergency procedures when dealing with major school-wide crises,” Anderson said in an email to The Missourian. “Quick decisions must be made when these types of incidents occur. It is imperative that pre-event planning responses are developed.”

Anderson’s “diverse” background of law enforcement coupled with his master’s degree in counseling from Missouri Baptist University made him an excellent pick for the position, said Abe Cook, Franklin County Emergency Management Agency director. Anderson will work under Cook.

The school safety director position will serve as a hub to bring together emergency responders, school districts and mental health professionals to improve the safety of the some 20,000 schoolchildren in Franklin County.

Anderson joined the Union Police Department in 1989 and is a graduate of the FBI Academy. In 2001 he became a school resource officer for the Union School District. He has also worked as a patrolman, sergeant, D.A.R.E officer, Crisis Intervention Team officer and member of the accident reconstruction team

On Board

Seven school districts have already signed on to be part of the program and others may join, Cook said.

He noted that his office is also working with the archdiocese to see about getting the parochial schools on board too.

“He (Anderson) will work with any of the school districts within Franklin County that will allow him,” Cook said.

The school safety director will work with K-12 schools and also coordinate with East Central College.

Districts that have already agreed to take part in the program include St. Clair, Lonedell, Meramec Valley, Spring Bluff, Sullivan, Union and Washington.

This is the first program of its kind in Missouri, Cook said.

“We have not found any program that has incorporated as many school districts, as many responder agencies, as many mental health groups as we are,” Cook said. “We have not seen any countywide initiative that has taken the step to provide an individual to be that central hub. So yes, this is cutting edge, never been done in the state of the Missouri.”

The Missouri Center for Education Safety has expressed interest in what is happening here, he said.

“They’re really interested to see our successes and what they can model after it if that’s applicable,” Cook said, adding, “There are a lot of eyes on us.”

As a school resource officer, Anderson has helped the Union School District, Superintendent Steve Bryant said.

“He’s been very instrumental in many of the things we’ve done throughout the district regarding safety,” Bryant said.

Washington School District Superintendent Lori VanLeer also thinks Anderson will do a great job as school safety director.

“He has tremendous knowledge of law enforcement, safety planning, and school operations,” VanLeer said in an email to The Missourian. “We will enjoy working with Kevin in this capacity and look forward to having a school safety coordinator that we can trust and rely on.”

Crisis Situations

Cook explained that the school safety director could help improve student safety across a variety of crisis situations, ranging from a school shooting to a natural disaster.

For instance, a reunification plan can get children back to their parents after a tornado or shooting. Likewise, mental health services may be needed in the schools if there is a death, he said.

Anderson was selected out of a field of eight “very qualified” applicants and will start Feb. 4.

As a school resource officer, Anderson worked with a lot of different schools and showed the ability to work alongside administration, first responders and mental health groups, Cook said.

“He’s seen the unique challenges,” Cook said, adding that Anderson is also good at reaching out to experts.

Anderson will evaluate mental health services to make sure the people are getting the safety they need to prevent violent acts, he said.

“He’ll be reaching out to the school districts to do initial assessments to see what direction we all need to go as far as improving the safety,” Cook said. “He’ll be reaching out to responder groups to receive their input and making sure they are involved in the conversation.”

The school safety director will work year-round.

Funding

The salary is about $60,000, and the funding comes from the Franklin County Children and Families Community Resource Board, which approved $111,000.

Other than the salary that money can cover other costs such as travel and training. If it turns out not all of the money is needed it could be returned to the resource board, Cook noted.

Of the funding approved by the resource board, $10,000 is for Foundations for Franklin County, a nonprofit organization, which will help administer the position.

The resource board gets its funding from a quarter-cent sales tax, which was approved by voters to provide services for children 19 and younger in Franklin County.

The resource board said it wanted to help get the position off the ground by providing funding for the first and possibly second year. In subsequent years, the position could be covered by a combination of the school districts served.

Franklin County will provide office space in the Emergency Management Agency, a vehicle and some fuel.

Not If, But When . . .

A specific incident did not lead to the creation of the position but rather a series of incidents in the United States and across the world.

“We had seen a lot of different challenges being faced by a lot of different communities,” Cook said, adding it is not a question of if an incident will happen but when.

A team of officials from Franklin County traveled last year to Columbine High School in Colorado, where 12 students and a teacher were murdered in 1999, to learn about school safety planning.

“Our children and our staff and our citizens really deserve the protection that they need and the efforts from all of the different entities coming together,” Cook said.