RSU 18 safety committee flags doors left ajar, diesel-railway "sparks" and proposes root-cause committee on student dysregulation

The safety committee described multiple safety concerns observed by school resource officers, including non-main doors being left ajar in fair weather, which the committee said increases the risk that an inappropriate person could enter school buildings.

"They have noticed that particularly in this fair weather that people have a tendency to leave non main doors ajar," the committee representative said, adding SROs have been educating building occupants on that point.

The committee also reported that sparks from diesel locomotives on a local railroad have caused fires in other communities. The committee speaker said they would contact the railroad president and invite a railroad representative to the safety committee to describe corrective actions. "I took the initiative and responsibility to write the president of the railroad to tell him it's unacceptable from a school safety perspective," the speaker said.

Committee members reviewed a summary of adverse safety events and noted the bulk of injuries tracked in the report are associated with students who are "dysregulated." The committee proposed forming a root-cause committee to explore interventions, supports and legal/operational constraints to reduce incidents involving dysregulated students.

Board members agreed the safety items warranted follow-up: the railroad will be asked to meet with the safety committee and a root-cause group will be developed to consider prevention and supports for staff and students.