Director of Public Safety Encourages
Involvement in Non-Traditional Discipline Program
JEFFERSON CITY, November 16, 2007—Director of
Missouri Department of Public Safety (DPS) Mark James encourages school
officials to attend a day long program funded by DPS to help prevent
school violence.
“Law enforcement and school officials must continue
to work together to find effective means of addressing school violence
to ensure young children do not end up in juvenile detention centers
or worse in a body bag,” James said. “Approaches like
restorative practices can help to prevent and tackle behavioral issues
and improve relationships within the school community.”
This symposium explores the use of Restorative Justice
in a school setting. Restorative Discipline provides staff and students
practices and principles to create safe and caring schools.
“We must continue to strengthen the state’s
juvenile justice system by supporting programs that can help keep
our children safe and prevent school violence,” Gov. Matt Blunt
said. “One of the best ways we can help protect young people
at-risk is prevention. These programs sponsored by my executive agency
help bring together positive reinforcement with personal responsibility.”
Included in the day-long training will be:
· An overview of restorative measures theory;
· Examples of circles, conferences and dialogues to repair
harm;
· A review of state, national and international evaluations;
· The use of the circle process to teach;
· One-line interventions in the hall way;
· A review of restorative practices as currently used in Minnesota
elementary, middle and high schools and ALC’s; and
· Examples of restorative discipline used in Missouri school
districts.
The presenter, Nancy Reistenberg, Prevention Specialist
for the Minnesota Department of Education, provides technical assistance
on violence and bully prevention, school connectedness, cultural relevance
of prevention education, crisis prevention and recovery and restorative
measures to school districts throughout Minnesota and the nation.
The Blunt Administration has worked continuously since
coming into office to improve the safety and security of Missouri
school children. Gov. Blunt’s Homeland Security Advisory Council
established a Safe School Working Group to ensure Missouri has a seamless
approach to school safety. Recently the governor announced the state
partnered with the Missouri School Boards’ Association (MSBA)
to create the Missouri Alert Network, a rapid notification system
for K-12 schools. The network allows state officials within the Department
of Public Safety to contact local schools within minutes of an emergency.
James also reminds parents, students, school staff and
other concerned Missourians that they can report violent behavior
or bullying incidents anonymously by calling Missouri’s School
Violence Hotline funded by DPS at 866-748-7047 Monday through Friday
from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Juvenile Justice Advisory Group within DPS has made
this program possible by securing federal funds. The Juvenile Justice
program has administered more than 2.2 million this past year to fund
various prevention and intervention programs.
The symposium will begin at 9:00 a.m. and will end
at 3:00 p.m. on Nov. 19, 2007, at the Lenoir Community Center, 3700
Lenoir Street, Columbia. Reservations can be made with Lori Gee, Missouri
Center for Safe Schools, 816-235-2477.