The state Department of Education is requiring that all public school campuses complete school vulnerability assessments this year.
“The superintendent (Keith Hayashi) directed all complex area superintendents and principals on May 5, 2023, that vulnerability assessments would be mandatory,” said DOE spokesman Derek Inoshita. “Barring any delays, vulnerability assessments at all schools statewide are anticipated to be complete by the end of 2023.”
Of the 41 DOE schools on the Big Island, 19 have completed their assessments, another 18 are scheduled, and four more are waiting to be scheduled.
That is an increase from February, when just 14 Big Island schools had completed assessments since 2017.
Statewide, 140 of the 258 DOE schools, or about 54%, have been formally evaluated since 2017.
“Vulnerability assessments are considered a ‘best practice’ by the U.S. departments of Education, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, and Justice,” Inoshita added.
The assessments address various elements of campus safety including outdated door locks, inconsistent security staffing, announcement and alarm systems, visitor screenings and perimeter security among others.
The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported last week that the top 10 deficiencies found among the vulnerability assessments involved emergency action plans, security of school perimeters, perimeter fencing, safety and security signs, classroom and office doors, communication capabilities, establishment of “hard corners” for hiding, adult supervision during student transition periods, situational awareness and school climate.
Kohala High School was one of the Big Island campuses that the DOE confirmed had completed its vulnerability assessment since 2017, and Principal Amy Stafford said it has helped both staff and students feel safer on campus.
“When someone comes to your school with a different set of eyes, and is able to see things differently than you do, as well as someone who sees all the schools in the state that can tell you where you stand in regards to safety, I think it brings an overall sense of relief,” Stafford said. “There’s relief in just knowing.”
Stafford mentioned that a recent adjustment now incorporates technology safety as part of the assessments, which she stated was very helpful for Kohala.
“The addition of the tech one was pretty eye-opening for us,” Stafford said, noting that the Kohala campus has dealt with phishing email problems in the past. “It basically shows you your overall vulnerabilities online.”
The DOE provided guidance to schools this year on how to prepare their emergency action plans to ensure that a similar level of safety is taking place across the DOE system.
“Before, each of the schools would create their own emergency action plan, but the state gave us a template to start with this year,” Stafford said. “I found that to be extremely helpful, to know we are all on the same page, and it makes sure that it covers details we may not even have been aware of before.”
Email Grant Phillips at gphillips@hawaiitribune-herald.com