From Rookie to Reality Case Analysis and Rationale

Megan Ray

College of Education, Grand Canyon University

EAD-505: Education Law

Rich Rundhaug

April 10, 2024

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 From Rookie to Reality Case Analysis and Rationale

Part 1: Case Analysis

1. Brief summary of the case:

In this case I am an assistant principal in another school district with confidence in my
abilities because of the principal, Rick King, at the school I previously worked at. I have
a hands-on approach along with being always visible, visiting classrooms daily,
addressing the concerns of parents, etc. As of current, I am the interim principal at
Shoreline because the current principal is sick and is not believed to be returning to work.
My mentor, Rick King, had to evacuate students at his school because a pipe bomb was
placed outside one of the classrooms in his building. Upon calling the bomb squad,
luckily it was defused and no one was injured. They discovered that it was a homemade
bomb. Not to long after this incident at Rick’s school something similar occurs at our
school. A fourth-grade student began running towards me with someone who appears to
be their mother; pointing at an object laying on the ground. The object looks like it is
made of metal and wrapped in tape on each end so I am assuming this is another
homemade device that was unfortunately similar to the explosive device found at Rick’s
school.
(Hanson, 2009)

2. Identify the issues to be resolved:

In this scenario, as an interim principal at Shoreline, there are a few primary issues that
need to be address. The firs issue is ensuring the safety and well-being of the students,
staff, and community members. Second would be responding promptly and effectively to
the potential threat posed by the suspicious object the mother and child are running from.
Another issue is communicating with law enforcement and relevant authorities to handle
the situation appropriately. Issues that need to be resolved in the future would be
implementing security measures, providing support and reassurance to students, staff, and
parents who may be affected because of this incident.

3. Stakeholders involved in the issues:

a. Students: Safety of students in the building and surrounding area is paramount
b. Parents/Guardians: Concerned about the safety and well-being of their
child/children
c. School Staff: Teachers, administrative staff, other personnel
d. Law Enforcement: Investigating the incident
e. Principal (interim principal): Responsible for making decisions and taking action
to address this potential threat
f. Local Community- residents/neighbors

4. One or two existing laws or court rulings that relate to the issues:

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 One relevant law that relates to this issue is the Safe Schools Act. This law, enacted in
various forms across different jurisdictions, outlines requirements for maintaining a safe
and secure learning environment in schools, which includes procedures for responding to
threats or incidents in violence like the incidents in this case study (New York State
Education Department, 2022). In addition to this, the court ruling New Jersey v. T.L.O.
(1985) established the legal framework for conducting searches and seizures in schools.
This ruling helped clarify the extent to which any school official can search students and
their belongings for weapons or dangerous items, like depicted in this case study New
Jersey v. T.L.O. (n.d.).

5. District policies that relate to the issues:

Rome City School districts policy on District-Wide Safety Plans and Building-Level
Emergency response plan relates to this by providing a framework for the development
and implementation of comprehensive safety plans at both the district-wide and building
levels. It ensures the coordination between school staff, law enforcement, and first
responders, while promoting collaboration. It also outlines procedures for reviewing,
updating, and training on emergency safety plans which will be crucial after the situation
is handled appropriately and safety by all stakeholders (RCSD, 2017). The school
districts safety program policy outlines measures to protect individuals on school
property, integrate safety into instruction, and establishing a safety committees, while
allocating funds for safety measures and promote safety awareness (RCSD, 1983).

6. Possible solutions to the issues:

There are many solutions that I could do for this issue. The first would be an immediate
evacuation and lockdown. We should have practiced lockdowns and evacuations so this
shouldn’t be a new scenario. Next would be to enhance security measures by increasing
security personnel, install surveillance cameras if there aren’t already any installed,
implement metal detectors and more. Regular training and drills go with the first solution
because they are important to ensure that students and staff are prepared to respond to
threats or emergencies.

7. The solution you chose to resolve the issues:

This situation definitely takes top priority when it comes down to making a decision and
given the gravity of this situation and the potential threat to the safety of my students,
staff, and community, I believe the best solution is honestly a multi-faceted approach that
prioritizes immediate action, effective communication, and a throughout investigation. In
a situation like there is not a single solution that would answer the question of how to
resolve it which is why I believe a multi-faceted approach is the best resolution.

8. Action steps (2-5) for implementing your solution, including a timeline for each step:
a. Evacuate students and staff to a designated safe location (Day 1)
i. Contact law enforcement
ii. Initiate lockdown procedures if deemed necessary by law enforcement

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 iii. Secure the area surrounding the suspicious object to prevent anyone from
going near it or accessing it
b. Enhancing security measures (Days 2-5)
i. Conduct a review of the existing security measures
ii. Identify areas of improvement
iii. Increase security personnel
iv. Stricter access to the building (possible ID badges if they are not already
being used)
v. Possible metal detectors because this has been a growing issue in the area
c. Communication and support (Day 1, throughout the rest of the school year)
i. Provide regular updates and information to stakeholders
ii. Offer any supports to those who may need it

9. Potential moral and legal consequences of the solution:

This situation has a few moral and legal consequences. Some moral consequences are an
infringement on the privacy and freedom of the students within the building because of
the enhanced security measures. This could potentially affect the school’s culture of trust
and autonomy. Another moral consequence could be stigmatization and fear because of
the heightened security measures and concerns in regards to this being the second
incident back to back from each other. There may be an increase in those fears and
anxieties because of this.
One legal consequence would be my legal obligation for reporting and investigating. In
the event of a security threat, the school has a legal obligation to report to law
enforcement, conduct a thorough investigation, and take the appropriate actions. The
issue I could face it failing to fulfil the appropriate actions. Another could be using those
resources on implementing enhanced security. This may require additional financial
resources and that means the school has to budget for this. The school and I would have
to make sure we are in compliance with legal requirements like an equal distribution of
resources among the schools within the district.

Part 2: Rationale

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Support the case analysis with a 500-750 word rationale explaining the decision you made and
how the decision:
 Supports the school’s vision and mission and safeguards the values of democracy,
equity, and diversity.
 Promotes social justice and ensures that individual student needs inform all aspects of
schooling.
 Promotes collaboration, trust, learning, and high expectations.
Cite the case and any other source documents as appropriate.

The decisions made in this case study are in response to the potential security threat of a bomb
being found near the school and are deeply rooted in the commitment to ensure the safety, well-
being, and academic success of all students while upholding core values of democracy, equity,
and diversity and speaks to what Rome City School District wants in their mission and vision
statement (Mission and Vision, 2024). The school’s vision and mission are centered around the
idea of creating a nurturing and inclusive learning environments where students feel valued,
respected, and supported. By implementing the multi-faceted approach I spoke about earlier in
addressing the security threat, our school would not only be safeguarding these values but also
promoting social justice and ensure that individual student needs inform all aspects of schooling.
Looking back at the Safe Schools it directly relates to the approach in addressing this issue, as it
outlines the requirements for maintaining a safe and secure learning environment in schools
(New York State Education Department, 2022). By adhering to the principals in the Safe Schools
Act we are not only fulfilling our legal obligations but also reinforcing our commitment to
creating a safe and supportive school environment where all of our students can learn and thrive
without having a fear of violence or discrimination.

Our decision to prioritize an immediate response which includes potentially evacuating students
to safety and initiating lockdown procedures if necessary, is guided by our commitment to
safeguard the physical and emotional well-being of the entire school community. Because we
decided to take quick and decisive action to mitigate any potential risk, we are showing that we
are dedicated to creating a secure and supportive learning environment. This decision aligns with
our school’s vision of fostering collaboration, trust, and high expectations among students, staff,
and parents, as it also reinforces the importance of working with all stakeholders to prioritize
safety above anything else because our students and the surrounding communities safety truly
are our number one priority in this case study.

New Jersey v. T.L.O. (1985) relates to this as well because it addresses the decision to
potentially enhance the security measures of the school in response to this threat. The Supreme
Court case established a legal framework for conducting searches and seizures within schools; so
in relation to this our response to the security threat are relevant because they outline the
parameters within which school officials can conduct searches and implement security measures
while respecting students’ rights against unreasonable searches and seizures (New Jersey v.
T.L.O. (n.d.). Again this decision also promotes collaboration, trust and learning among students
and staff while demonstrating a strong commitment to maintaining a safe and secure learning
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environment while respecting students’ rights and dignity. When thinking about empathy and
compassion, the decision to provide any type of supports or counseling to students, staff, and
parents that were affected by this incident reflects our commitment of meeting individual needs
of students and the community. This allows everyone to feel heard, valued, and supported while
promoting social justice and equity. In conclusion, we are promoting democracy, equity, and
diversity while upholding our school’s mission and vision because we are prioritizing the safety
and security of our students, staff, and school community.

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 References

Hanson, K. L. (2009b). A casebook for school leaders: Linking the ISLLC standards to effective

practice. Pearson/Merrill/Prentice Hall.

New Jersey v. T.L.O. (n.d.). Oyez. Retrieved April 9, 2024, from

https://www.oyez.org/cases/1983/83-712

New York State Education Department. (2022). Plan Development Resource Packet [PDF].

Retrieved from https://www.p12.nysed.gov/sss/documents/plan-development-resource-

packet.pdf

RCSD. (2016, August, 17). Fire and Emergency Drills and Bus Emergency Drills [PDF].

RCSD. (1983). rcsd pol – 5030 Safety Program [PDF].

RCSD. (2017). rcsd pol – 5031 District-Wide Safety Plans and Building-level Emergency

Response Plans [PDF].

Rome City School District. Mission and Vision Statement | Rome City School District. (n.d.-b).

https://www.romecsd.org/page/mission-and-vision-statement

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