Obstacles and Outside Assistance

              When it comes to school safety, there are those who are against it and those who oppose it. An argument that can be made by some why school safety might not be a priority to some is the funding. Creating a school safety plan that incorporates aspects of safety and the well being of students requires outside assistance. However, outside assistance requires money that some districts do not have to support a plan like this. One way to help this are holding fundraisers to go towards training, hiring necessary people, and other resources needed for school safety. Also, there are some resources online that are free that provide free advice on how to create safety programs in school.

                In order for schools to have a safe and positive environment, there needs to be outside support. One organization that is lending a helping hand is the National Education Association or NEA. They are supporting school safety by offering a crisis guide. This crisis guide includes steps to help with before, during, and after a crisis:

• Before: this section helps create a plan for a school or school district, steps to create a prevention programs, and training. 
• During: this section provides what to do on the first day of the crisis, the second day, the first week, and when students and staff return. 
• After: this section discusses long-term mental health needs, handling donations, and long-term communications and media strategies. 

The NEA also provides resources to help with a variety of different scenarios. These scenarios include: 

• School safety
• Violence prevention
• GLBT
• Internet Safety
• Bullying
• Conflict Resolution