5 Tips to Reducing “Election Day Fallout” Risk

As with most school safety and security issues there exists a timeline to where an event creates immediate medium to medium-high risk concerns, but after a 10-14 day timespan the risk level becomes medium to medium low. The incidents created in schools as a result of the election will be no different. However, until we get to Thanksgiving break here are 5 tips to effective manage the potential risk created on your campus:

1) Avoid large group assemblies to address incidents/issues and focus small group discussions on lowering risk: Creating an opportunity for your school “attention cravers” to shout out inflammatory comments is almost guaranteed if you gather your entire student body (or groups more then 50). Tailor any necessary risk mitigating sessions to small classroom size meetings and set topics such as, “How do we make everyone feel as if their voice is heard”, “What is a realistic goal that we as a school can achieve”, “What are some common false rumors being shared?”, “How do we make sure everyone stays safe?”

2) Gather your strong “protest” student leaders and task them to develop a shared goal:
If you have student leaders on either side of the election outcome, or leading negative reaction to one side gather them in a room with the purpose of achieving a shared goal. Stating that you need their help in making sure everyone is safe ask them to give you ideas on school/student safety issues. Example: “If students walkout and harm themselves or others the protest leaders would feel responsible and the school would have to take disciplinary action. How can we avoid what nobody wants?”

3) Turn this event in to a learning experience to dispel fear and panic:
In small groups help guide students to debunk current fears/concerns they have, and instruct on how the government actually works.

4) Do not abandon your school rules and expectations:
Allowing walk outs and protests that put your students/school at risk is obviously dangerous, but also “contagious” as students realize they can miss classes they don’t want to attend. Stick by your school rules and expectations, and encourage your faculty/staff to do the same. If you have potentially volatile situations that would erupt if students were held in class consider brining in additional adults such as district office and other departmental staff. Bringing in law enforcement may inflame the situation, but obviously you know your culture best.

5) Create debate amongst other important student issues
Another de-escalation technique is to get students all on one side of an issue. Doesn’t alleviate the concern, but lowers the risk level if you have two (or more) groups at odds with each other. Example: “Next semester there is talk of eliminating/adding off campus lunch and we need your feedback pro and con”.

Specific situations you feel need more attention please contact us for a no-cost review….