School Risks

There is a growing list of risks that can stop a school in its tracks...

INCREASING PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY is a dangerous development for schools - institutions that used to belong, with churches and government, in the "community good will and responsibility" realm. This is decreasingly the case and school boards, councils and principals need to seriously consider adopting professional risk management principles and processes. Not only will this reduce the likelihood of serious incidents, but it will also be demonstrable evidence of the professional management and care now expected of schools and individually of their office-bearers.

This page will gradually accumulate some of the diverse new, and old, risks that 21st century schools need to consider, without letting it get in the way of their prime mission of facilitating learning. Contact Austega for help to achieve this balance. Threre are also free resources to help you in this journey.

Premises and physical security

Kidnapping or takeover of school buses or groups in transit eg Pennsylvania school bus & 13 students missing for 6 hours

Logistics and control issues with nearby physical disasters (including coping with distressed students and parents, during possible evacuation) eg offsite safety tips, crisis management guidelines, crisis response testing

Angry violent students/parents/outsiders eg US school experience with fatal violence 1997-99, Columbine Commission recommendations, US Secret Service report on school violence and prevention & threat assesssment guidelines

Vandalism, including the targetting of schools - anti vandalism campaigns

Identifying "outsiders" in a large school

Building collapse/failure - screening/hardening existing buildings

Regulatory fines for "unsafe work environment" eg Westport Technology High School fined $80,000 for environment where teachers were repeatedly assaulted & injured by students with behavioural problems - Sep 2000

Vandalism/fire and business continuity issues eg Brighton-le-Sands Primary School fires 27 Jan 2000

School assaults including with weapons with reported numbers doubling between 1995 and 1999, mainly at lunchtime and 65% boys (SMH 22/3/99 p3)

Effectiveness of school security systems US experience account

Premises physical security - reliability, perspective eg locked emergency doors at school dances et alia

Internet and new technologies

Open source vs proprietary software in schools US view Nov 01

Virus and hacker protection SANS top 20 vulnerabilities

Parasite web-sites that rely on user URL errors (eg www.encata.com) to display porn

Lawsuit based on Invasion of student privacy eg offsite story

Demonstrable duty of care over student use eg student internet usage records open to public scrutiny...

Growth in "hate" sites

Internet filtering

Ownership or usage rights to online course material

Obsolescence of non-digital (ie paper-based) resources

Liability for offshore education services

Protection of student and family records

Defining and managing "internet cheating"

Business model risks

Protecting and boosting school image/marketing power

Effects of zoning

Effects of online school comparison guides see an offsite example

Handling parental and student technology expectations while keeping options open

Conflict between school ethos and regulatory requirements eg Nambucca Heads Christian Community School & corporal punishment (Jan 2001)

Holding good staff with enrolment based staffing and resource formulae

Managing partnerships with universities and other organisations

Impact of extended school hours on economic viability

Managing community use of facilities - safety issues, contractual commitments etc

Competition between certifications eg IT certification

Handling donors professionally

Paying teachers for performance eg Denver's bonuses based on student achievement

Political issues and school control

Showing and explaining current affairs eg 11 Sep World Trade Center destruction

Politicising elections of school trustees/governors

Public funding of non-government schools - political decisions may not be sensible

Demonstrable equity vs satisfying actively interested parents

Accreditation requirements

Difficulties offering full range of course choice particularly for senior students

Exclusion vs discrimination eg Hills Grammar vs Scarlett Finney (spina bifida) declined enrolment 1997 via HREOC 1999 to court decision May 2000

Religious observance vs discrimination

Peer pressures, fads and theft - eg mobile phones

Private school leasing of public assets eg Cranbrook leasing of two Dangar Fields ovals Jan 1997

Retaining skilled staff particularly in areas of commercial demand

Media targeting of a school eg Manly High School P&C media issue Feb 2000, Mt Druitt High School poor HSC performance media issue

Parental lobbying for school change eg Manly High School P&C media action Feb 2000, Newington College's Wyvern House parent action force out principal & Council chairman Feb 2000

Public health risks

Maintaining healthy school environments - offsite reference site

Mail risks: letterbombs and anthrax

Cell phone towers: easy revenue or potential time bomb

Occupational health issues not being managed with respect to students

Controlling drug use eg introducing random drug testing

Pre-immunisation of students to gain enrolment?

Schools on dangerous sites eg offsite story of US contaminated sites (chosen due to cost pressures?)

Duty of care and child abuse risks

Bullying and taking appropriate response offsite US story

Child abuse by staff eg offsite story

Abuse protection regulations can affect school reputations

After school pickup risks - abduction, family conflicts, traffic control, bus queues

Conspicuous uniforms and attracting abuse

Accountability for learning and demonstrability of care

Publishing student information and work online - US guidelines on publishing student information

Libel, slander, privacy and related concerns

Staff acting as counsellors

Agressive behaviour

Suspension policies and appeals processes - including defending them publicly

Effectively handling gang violence vs avoiding civil liberty litigation/complaints

Cyber-bullying

Last updated:16/5/07

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