Commitment to Safe Schools

What is a walking school bus?

A walking school bus is a group of children walking to school with one or more adults. It's that simple. 

Walking School Buses help schools with transportation gaps for students who live within the walk zones. The National Center for Safe Routes to School created a fantastic resource: How to Start a Waking Bus at Your School. This step-by-step guide outlines how to plan and successfully have a walking school bus for your school, and includes proven tools, tops, and real-world resources for a successful start of the program.

 

School-zone safety has always been a priority at SSPPS schools. The Safe Crossing pilot project was designed to address the 5th Ave S / 7th Ave S intersection identified as a corridor of concern in the Safe Routes to School Planning Grant for Kaposia Elementary School in 2018. Speeding and limited infrastructure to support safe pedestrian crossing at the intersection were identified as a priority concern during the Rapid Planning Workshop and continue to be concerns during arrival and dismissal observations.

Safe Crossing Instructions: Click here to watch the instructional video to learn more about the safe crossing project and how to use the flag system. 

Safe Crossing Intersections: Safe Crossing Locations

In addition to the priority intersections on 5th Ave S / 7th Ave S, SSPPS received SHIP funding to supply additional intersections surrounding Kaposia Elementary School (5 intersections identified) and Lincoln Center Elementary School (1 intersection identified).

Kaposia Elementary School
7th Ave S & Dale St W
7th Ave S & Spruce St W
5th Ave S & Spruce St W
3rd Ave S & Spruce St W
W Douglas St & 1st Ave W

Lincoln Center Elementary School
12th Ave & 4th Street

Partnerships: 

The Safe Routes to School Team has partnered with community members in the SSPPS district, SSP city and Dakota County to support the implementation of this project, a project identified by the SSP community as a corridor of concern. 

Project Funding: 

SSPPS Safe Crossing Pilot project is supported by the Statewide Health Improvement Partnership, Minnesota Department of Health and Dakota County Public Health Department.

South St. Paul Public Schools (SSPPS) students walking and biking to school will have some extra support to help make that journey safer thanks to a $98,600 grant from the Minnesota Department of Transportation’s (MnDOT) Safe Routes to School program (SRTS). SSPPS was one of six school districts awarded the SRTS grant in the Spring of 2019, out of a total application pool of 12 districts. 

SSPPS, will use the grant to hire a part-time district coordinator for the next three years who will work with school staff to implement the district’s SRTS plan. The plan articulates activities in key focus areas (education, engagement, enforcement and engineering) that align with the district’s vision to make walking and biking to and around school a safe, comfortable, and fun activity for all students and families. This vision is included in each of the school district’s SRTS plans and includes a focus on equity considerations to ensure that walking and biking to school is safe, comfortable, and convenient for every student, regardless of identity or ability. Click here to view the full article.

Enjoy getting outdoors and moving your body by walking or biking in your neighborhood. When developing your route, Google Maps has a feature to provide routes which are safe for walking and biking.

Tip: Try to select roads which are pedestrian friendly, including low traffic and routes which are interconnected to parks, trails, sidewalks and pathways.

Nature/Science Routes

• Mississippi River Trail & Other SPP Parks
• South Saint Paul Parks & Trail Map
   

Family Walks

Pedestrian Safety Instruction
Take the time during your family walk to teach your children pedestrian safety. Here are some resources to help:

• Teaching Children to Walk Safely as They Grow and Develop (National SRTS)
• Video - Willie Whistle Teaches Crossing Streets Safely 
• Video - Let’s Go Walking
   

Family Bike Rides

Dakota County offers a growing number of miles of regional trails for people who enjoy biking - click here to view trails.

Take the time during your family walk to teach your children bicycle safety. Here are some resources to help:

• Guide—Helping your child be a safe bicyclist
• Guide—Ayudando a su hijo a ser un ciclista seguro 
• Video Bike Safety—elementary and middle school
• Video Bike Safety—high school, English
• Video Bike Safety—high school, Spanish
• Video—ABC Quick Check
• Wordless—Rules of the Road
• Wordless—Helmet Fit
• Wordless—Bike Riding Safety

Children who bully may try to elicit certain reactions from the children they target. Help your child respond in ways that don't further bullying behavior, like

• Reporting the bullying behavior to a trusted adult at school or a family member
• Instruct your child not to fight back physically, which can prolong the bullying behavior and lead to injury
• Model positive relationship-building skills with your child, such as being respectful, self-advocating and demonstrating empathy

If you are concerned about bullying in your school, please contact your principal, child's teacher, or school counselor. 

While people of all ages experience some conflict in relationships, learning to recognize and respond effectively to bullying can help children learn positive relationship skills that will last a life-time. 

Bullying encompasses a wide range of behaviors that can hurt someone. This could include, but certainly is not limited to:

• Physical aggression
• Teasing or name-calling
• Spreading rumors and gossip
• Hurtful behaviors on social media
• Purposefully leaving someone out

It can sometimes be hard to recognize bullying. Hurtful or harmful behavior becomes bullying when one person has more power and uses their power to fight, frighten or exclude other people. 

Bullying can jeopardize children's safety and can create both short and long-term consequences for all involved. Those impacted by harmful behaviors--whether an aggressor, a target, or a bystander--may be more likely to develop academic problems and face social and emotional difficulties.

Occasional conflict between two peers is a normal part of growing up, but bullying is not. During conflicts, both sides have equal power to solve a problem. When bullying occurs, however, one individual uses their power and influence to harm another. 

PACER CENTER'S KIDS AGAINST BULLYING

steps students can take to stop bullying

steps families can take to help child who is bullied

what kids can do

acoso escolar y acoso cibernetico

Reporting prohibited conduct:

• Any student who believes they have been a victim or has knowledge of misconduct should report the alledged act to the Title IX Coordinator as soon as possible
• Any employee who believes they have been a victimor has knowledge of misconduct must promptly report the alledged act to the Title IX Coordinator 
• Reporting an incident may be made at any time
• If an alledged crime is committed the school district may report the alledged conduct to law enforcement

Overview of grievance process:

• All complaints will receive equitable treatment
• All complaints will receive objective and unbiased evaluations
• Personnel will presume the respondent is not responsible for the alledged conduct until a determination is made at the end of the grievance process
• The school district will keep the identity of an individual confidential
• Complainants and respondents have the right to an advisor and/or a support person
• The school district will send written notice of any investigative interviews or meetings to all expected to participate
• The school district may consolidate formal complaints that arise out of the same facts or circumstances
• The school district will not use evidence protected under a legally recognized privilege
• The burden of proof will remain on the school district and not upon the parties
• The complaint will be completed within the timeline presented depending on the circumstances of the alledged misconduct
• The potential remedies and disciplinary sanctions are outlined in the policy

Title IX personnel receive training in the following areas: 

• Title IX definition of sexual harassment
• Scope of the school district’s education program or activity
• How to conduct an investigation and grievance process, appeals and informal resolution process
• How to serve impartially, including avoiding prejudgment of the facts at issue, conflicts of interest, and bias
• For decision-makers, training on issues of relevance of questions and evidence, including when questions and evidence about the complainant’s prior sexual behavior are not relevant
• For Investigators, training on issues of relevance, including the creation of an investigative report that fairly summarizes relevant evidence.

Training Materials

• Title IX Training August 6, 2020