Members of the McCallum Generation Citizen Action Research Group are interested in meeting with you at the soonest possible date to discuss the creation of a campus committee that would address issues of campus safety and inclusion. We are a collective of students who feel that it is imperative that changes in school safety policies solicit input from all campus stakeholders. Most recently, our campus has implemented the LOCK program in response to the deadly school shooting in Parkland, FL. To our knowledge, neither students nor faculty were formally consulted in this decision. Our entire McCallum community deserves to feel safe at school. The creation of a committee where all campus stakeholders--including representatives from the student body, faculty, administration, and security personnel--could meet to discuss and ultimately advise campus decision-makers on issues of safety and inclusion would be a positive step towards ensuring the comfort and well being of all students.
We propose the following committee structure:
One-two student representatives per grade level
One faculty member representing each department
One-two campus SROs
Two administrative representatives, one being the principal
Parent representatives from existing parent organizations (if advisable)
We propose the following logistical considerations:
Monthly meetings
Agenda drafted by students and revised and approved by other committee members
Among the issues we hope the committee will urgently discuss are:
The LOCK program
The creation of an Active Shooter Plan
Adequate staffing of campus mental health personnel
Revised cultural competence training for campus security personnel
When considering long term ideas and interventions, we need to solidify McCallum students’ voices in the matters concerning our safety and protection. Specifically, our community must ensure that all interventions are culturally appropriate and consider the perspectives of all students, especially those who are underrepresented among existing student leadership organizations.
Sincerely, McCallum Safety and Inclusion Collective