Allen, Golliver discuss schools’ physical, mental safety in ‘Sittin’ With the Supe’

MADISON – The topic, “School Safety and Mental Health,” opened Season 3 of “Sittin’ With the Supe,” the podcast by Dr. Ed Nichols, Superintendent of Madison City Schools.

Nichols uses his podcast as an informative look at the programs, groups and people within MCS.

This session’s guests were Jamie Golliver, MCS Coordinator of Security and Emergency Management, and Stephanie Allen, MCS Mental Health Services Coordinator. Golliver and Allen collaborate in their work to keep both the physical well-being and soundness of mental health for MCS students, faculties and staff.

Golliver has worked in education for 29 years – all in Madison — and, most recently, Principal at Madison Elementary School.

“I’ve been blessed to have been involved in safety at different levels in local and district initiatives,” Golliver said. He is adapting his view from the classroom and taking that view “to look from a different lens to a wider scale for the district.”

“Things are constantly changing in world of safety and security,” Golliver said. For example, the district has compared screening devices, ranging from portable units to permanent equipment. The Crisis Alert System at all district schools allows an employee badge to transmit a signal to administrators if an emergency situation develops.

The MCS Visitor Management System validates visitors with a national database. To monitor visitors, all MCS entrances have a buzzer/ camera setup. Nationally, canines have an increasing role with their training to detect weapons, along with drugs.

Golliver has assembled a safety committee with diverse stakeholders for discussions, such as weapons screening.

“Mental health touches all areas because it’s a part of the student,” Allen said. Allen has worked as a mental health professional 20-plus years – 12 with MCS.

“MCS has done well to get input from stakeholders (by surveys, committee teams and outlets with students, parents and staff). We have two-way communication, back and forth from parent to schools,” Allen said.

For example, the Text to Protect line allows any individual to report suspicious actions to the school system. “These practices allow a student to feel being heard and a feeling of safety,” Allen said.

Research shows that physical bullying or “in-the-building bullying” has decreased but online bullying has increased, Allen said. “Our ‘first-aid class’ for mental health trains to watch for signs of stress and what a teacher or parent can do to support that student.”

Nichols has observed changes in behavior with MCS’ new policy for cell phones. “Our (teachers) are seeing students engaging in conversation, and students don’t have phones in hallways as much. They’re making eye-to-eye contact,” Nichols said.

MCS was the first district in Alabama to adopt Handle With Care, which promotes school-community communication to confirm that children who experience trauma will later receive appropriate treatment at school. (handlewithcareal. org) The program connects schools and first-responders.

Administrators are notified if the child has been subjected to an emergency but attends school the next day, Allen said. “It also gives training for teachers and counselors to know how to respond. That communication piece is tremendous,” Allen said.

Golliver endorses Handle With Care. “When you see the WHY behind the WHAT with anything we do, you’ll get the buy-in and bring the puzzle together,” Golliver said.

“When we get a Handle With Care alert, we’re not engaged in knowing what the reason is – a wreck, fire, illness of a parent,” Nichols said. “We need to know that something has happened. We don’t pry into the cause.”

“We have two folks (Allen and Golliver) dedicated to the district and kids. Anytime you have a concern about a safety issue, call the Central Office or police” or any contact like Text to Protect, Nichols said.

Maria Copeland, Russel Johnson and John Peck help with “Sittin’ With the Supe.”