Group’s focus is on safety of our schools Your Turn
The very existence of public education is to create learning experiences and to be a model of continuous growth and improvement. It’s important, as a school district, that the Worcester Public Schools continues to examine and enhance its existing programs, policies and practices for all.
That is why the Worcester Public Schools recently initiated the Safety Advisory for Education (SAFE) Workgroup. This collaborative effort brings together a diverse range of voices to delve into evidence-based research and industry standards regarding safety in schools.
With almost 100 volunteers, the workgroup concentrates on two pivotal aspects:
1. Physical safety and training
2. Fostering a sense of belonging for our students, staff and families
These two groups will learn together and provide recommendations for policy and procedural changes through a lens of prevention and early intervention.
As we embark upon this important work, it is crucial that WPS remains committed to the belief that “all means all.” When we consider our youth, “all means all” expects every adult to ask how we provide every scholar what they need to thrive, regardless of their current circumstances, life experiences or ZIP code.
As a district committed to the education of children, we must continue to examine whether our policies, practices and programs align with “all means all,” or whether we have exclusionary layers that need to be peeled away.
At the first meeting, members were tasked with prioritizing key areas of focus for the next six months. First, our attention will be directed toward examining policies and practices that influence the culture of safety and belonging in schools. This encompasses evaluating school policies, infrastructure, communication methods and disciplinary measures.
Second, the group will analyze student experience data to identify successful interventions, disparities across schools, and factors influencing decisionmaking processes.
The SAFE workgroup consists of individuals who are committed to learning together, problem solving and creating physically safe environments that are responsive to any emergency, while also fostering nurturing learning spaces that meet the needs of all scholars. This is complex work that takes a collective effort with a variety of perspectives. I cannot think of another learning organization that has the gumption to solve this work together. Worcester is the community that can and will make this happen.
“All means all” does not mean it is one or the other. We can have inclusionary policies and discipline children when they make a poor decision and restore them back into the learning community. We can train for emergencies and nurture a sense of security. We can have a fight in a school and still be a safe school. Life does not have to be lived through a binary lens. We can embrace the idea of "and," not "or."
Public education requires us to meet children where they are and lift them to new levels of excellence. All of the adults in the organization must work together to meet the varying needs of all youth.
The role of a leader is to build and inspire a vision of what can be. Now is the time to examine and improve upon our policies, practices and programs that have unintentionally hurt children by excluding some.
As your superintendent, I will continue to lead through a lens of inclusion while working diligently to transform outdated exclusionary programs and practices into transformative, inclusionary ones — all while ensuring our schools are safe. Our families, children and staff deserve nothing less.
Rachel H. Monárrez, Ph.D., is superintendent of the Worcester Public Schools.