Loveland Magazine

LOVELAND MAGAZINE

News and Events from the Loveland, Ohio Area

Without fear or favor

Since 2004

Tag: District Safety Committee

  • Tiger Safety Update from the Superintendent

    Tiger Safety Update from the Superintendent

    by Dr. Amy Crouse, Loveland Superintendent

    It has been one month since I communicated with you in a formal way about Tiger Safety; at that time I was reacting as interim superintendent to the sadness we all felt in Tiger Nation to the news of the February 14 fatal school shooting in Parkland, Fla. Since that event, I have heard from many of you with questions about safety. As such, I wanted to bring you up-to-speed on the work we have been involved in.

    I have heard from many of you with questions about safety.

    Immediately following the February 14 event, after our buildings had a chance to review safety procedures, the district sent a comprehensive safety survey to our Tiger Staff. This survey created an opportunity for every employee – secretaries, teachers, administrators, food service professionals, transportation, custodial professionals and paraprofessionals – to tell senior leaders very directly what opportunities we, as a district, had to enhance the safety of our campus.

    Monday, March 12, safety experts from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Greater Cincinnati Fusion Center, and Loveland Police Chief Sean Rahe conducted a safety assessment of our buildings.

    Monday, March 12, safety experts from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Greater Cincinnati Fusion Center, and Loveland Police Chief Sean Rahe conducted a safety assessment of our buildings, so they could also make recommendations on how we could improve security.

    Additionally, we have collected the comments we have received from parents – from social media posts to emails to Board meetings – and all of those concerns were categorized and presented to a special meeting of our District Safety Committee Thursday, March 15. This was the opportunity for our core team to talk through the suggestions with our community’s professional emergency responders to begin to develop a plan of action with clear priorities.

    As the superintendent of the Loveland City School District, what I want you to know is this: We aren’t just listening – we are taking action. The safety and security of our students and staff is a top priority for our Board of Education. It is a top priority for me as your educational leader.

    If you have questions related to safety, please see this comprehensive resource (http://www.lovelandschools.org/TigerSafety.aspx)

    I will continue to bring you updates on Tiger Safety as we work through the process. In the meantime, if you have questions related to safety, please see this comprehensive resource (http://www.lovelandschools.org/TigerSafety.aspx) we have made available for our Tiger families to review how we are trained and the resources we currently have to keep our district safe. Don’t hesitate to contact your principal for any questions specific to your student’s building.

    In service to our Tigers,

    Dr. Amy Crouse

    Superintendent
    Loveland City School District

  • Ensuring that we are meeting student mental-health needs is critical

    Ensuring that we are meeting student mental-health needs is critical

    By Eric Dool, Loveland Director of Student Services

    It is one of our big three district goals: Tiger Care. Over the next several months, Loveland City Schools will be engaging in a process of clearly defining what that goal entails. We want to begin by addressing one important aspect of this goal that is on many of your minds, and that is safety. Thursday, March 15, after collecting feedback from both the community and the staff, the Loveland City School District Safety Committee will be meeting to review all of our Tiger Safety procedures; this team works directly with our Loveland emergency response professionals. In this area – we are making strides together.

    As experience has shown us, while ensuring our students’ physical safety is critical, so too is our ensuring that we are meeting their mental-health needs.

    As experience has shown us, while ensuring our students’ physical safety is critical, so too is our ensuring that we are meeting their mental-health needs.

    Throughout the past several years, Loveland City Schools has worked to strengthen its partnerships with community resources, such as that with The Children’s Home of Cincinnati. Through this partnership, the district is able to offer intensive mental-health services to those students in need. Services include school-based therapy, family therapy/case management, medication management, and, at times, parent therapy when tied to a student also receiving services. These services are above and beyond those provided day-to-day by school psychologists, school counselors, and other district staff. Additionally, access is as simple as letting the school know that you are interested; school staff can assist in completing the simple referral form necessary to begin the process.

    Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me directly if you would like more information about who you can call.

    Finally, as families, you should know that there are a wealth of community-based resources available to you for crisis and long-term support.  Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me directly if you would like more information about who you can call. Above all – do not be afraid to ask for help!

    Tiger Care – it is what we do. I look forward to sharing more with you in the upcoming weeks.

    Eric Dool is Director of Student Services
    for the Loveland City School District

  • Dr. Amy Crouse on Loveland school safety

    Dr. Amy Crouse on Loveland school safety

    This message was originally issued by the Loveland School District the day after the school shooting in Parkland Florida.
    by Interim Superintendent Dr. Amy Crouse
     

    There is nothing quite like at the end of a long day coming home to hug my three kiddos. Following the horrific unfolding of the February 14 fatal high school shooting in Florida – those hugs were a bit tighter at my house, as I’m sure they were in yours. We love our children – all of them, and we want nothing but the best for them, and at the Loveland City School District – that starts with safety.

    Today, all of our buildings reviewed safety procedures.

    Today, all of our buildings emailed parents to let them know who to call with questions.

    Today, the Loveland Police Department provided increased presence at our buildings.

    “But, I’m sure in your mind you ask: What about tomorrow? And, the day after that… and the day after that.”
     

    But, I’m sure in your mind you ask: What about tomorrow? And, the day after that… and the day after that. 

    What I will tell you is that Tiger Safety is always on our minds as administrators, teachers, staff – and with the full support of our Loveland Board of Education. It is always evolving, always improving, and often reviewed by our District Safety Committee. We have pulled together a comprehensive resource for our Tiger families to dive a little deeper into how we are trained and the resources we have to keep our district safe. 

    “And, as always, we encourage you to speak up if you see something. Tell a teacher, tell a principal – call me. Let someone know if something seems wrong.”
    It’s what we can articulate to you on a day where many of us find ourselves at a loss for words. 

    And, as always, we encourage you to speak up if you see something. Tell a teacher, tell a principal – call me. Let someone know if something seems wrong.

    Our collective Loveland heart is with our Florida neighbors.  

    In service to our Tigers,
    Dr. Amy Crouse
    Interim Superintendent
    Loveland City School District