[Busmgrs] Healthy and Safe Schools Plans

Tue Nov 29 22:37:40 PST 2016

Dear Business Managers,

I wanted to reach out and touch base with the districts regarding the progress with the Healthy and Safe Schools plan (HASS). For many of you, I know it may seem like your drafts were submitted and have been forgotten. This is not the case. I have recently been brought onboard to assist with the program and the Lead Testing reimbursement program. I appreciate your patience as I have been getting up to speed. We see the HASS plan as an important document, not just busy work, and believe its primary function as a tool to provide clarity and transparency of school safety issues to the public. To that end, as you craft your plans we would like to see plans that not only adhere to the rules, but are as user friendly as possible.

To date, I have received and examined 203 plans. The instruction I was given was to evaluate whether all required elements were addressed, not whether it was or wasn't a good plan. I understand that this is just a draft, but only something in the neighborhood of 10% of them are satisfactory as submitted.

Given the high level of problems with the plans I thought it would be better to let every district know about common problems. This would enable districts to address these problems and work collaboratively on solving them.

1.       Lead in Drinking Water Testing
The largest difficulty is with planning for dealing with lead in drinking water. As most of you are aware, this has become a high profile, hot button issue that has drawn much attention from the public and the media. What I find in the plans is that often they have directly copied the sample information we provided, with absolutely no changes. Because the language provided contained wording saying that plans "should" do one thing or another, it is completely meaningless as a plan without changing should to will. Quite a number state that testing has been done or will be done but lack specificity as to when. But probably the largest issue is that most do not address any kind of ongoing testing for the future or lack in sufficient specificity to actually be a "plan". Please be clear, we are NOT telling districts that they must test or retest on any particular schedule. However, districts need to tell their communities what the future plans will be.

2.       Communications
There are also quite a number of plans that have difficulty with the Communication section. There seems to be reluctance to include some of the required forms of communication, particularly email. Because ORS 581-022-2223 (Rule 22) requires test results to be made available by posting on their website, through their email system, AND hardcopy at the main administration office, within 5 days, many plans fail.

3.       Missing/Inactive Webpages/Links
A significant number of plans where the links are missing or inactive. In most cases I suspect that districts are aware and intend to correct this. Once again, I realize this was only a draft. I also have some concern that many plans direct users to their website, but the information is often either missing or difficult to find. In a few cases, the websites required authorization or a password to obtain access to the information. Again, we believe the focus should be on clarity and transparency.

Beyond that, there are an assortment of issues, most requiring only minor changes in wording or just basic proofreading. And yes, I remember, these are just drafts.

I am happy to work with districts individually to help ensure that your HASS plans are satisfactory. Please forward this message on to those that re responsible for maintaining the HASS plans.

Thank you for your devotion to keeping kids safe.

Brian French
Brian.French at ode.state.or.us<mailto:Brian.French at ode.state.or.us>
503-947-5968

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