What are the responsibilities and job description for the Tuscaloosa City Schools System Safety Specialist position at Tuscaloosa City Schools?
Safety Specialist
Job Goal
To coordinate the planning, delivery, assessment, and implementation of the Schools’ and District’s safety plans, procedures, and protocols and will oversee the emergency response procedures in accordance with state and federal laws and guidelines.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree or above from an accredited educational institution in education preferred or criminal justice or related field or at least five (5) years experience in law enforcement. Master’s Degree preferred.
- Knowledge and training in crisis management and prevention preferred.
- Certification in National Incident Management Systems (NIMS) preferred.
- Valid Alabama driver’s license.
- A valid Alabama teaching certificate in the field of school administration preferred.
- Must meet the suitability criteria for employment and/or certification/licensure under the Alabama Child Protection Act of 1999 and Act No. 2002-457
- Such alternatives to the above qualifications as the board may find appropriate and acceptable.
FLSA status
Exempt
Reports To
Assistant Superintendent of Operations
Coordinator of Extracurricular Activities and Safety
Supervises
See Organizational Chart
Required knowledge, skills and abilities
- Ability to demonstrate effective leadership skills.
- Ability to be efficient and effective with Microsoft Office Programs such as Word, Excel, Publisher and Access.
- Ability to supervise and evaluate personnel assigned in the area of supervision.
- Ability to speak and write clearly and correctly.
- Knowledge of board policies and procedures.
- Ability to use effective public relations skills necessary for the successful implementation of programs, the coordination of committees, and collaborative groups and maintain productive relationships among colleagues as well as those supervised.
- Knowledge of Board, nSide, Alabama State Department policies, and procedures for the administration of all assessments/programs/events.
- Physical mobility and visual acuity to visit schools and classrooms for the improvement of programs.
- If the candidate does not presently hold NIMS certification, this certification must be obtained within six (6) months of hire date.
- If the candidate does not presently hold crisis management certification, this certification must be obtained within six (6) months of hire date.
- Possesses extensive knowledge of safety codes and emergency preparedness.
- Physically able to conduct inspections and traverse all properties belonging to the school district.
- Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds at a time.
Essential Functions
- Ensures compliance with district policies, procedures, rules, regulations, and codes as well as state, local and federal laws pertaining to schools’ and system’s safety programs (e.g. District safety protocols & procedures, catastrophic insurance requirements, and nSide).
- Creates the District safety budget for the purpose of coordinating activities, forecasting/adjusting additional funds needed for staffing, equipment, materials, and supplies.
- Participates in a variety of committees, commissions and professional group meetings for the purpose of staying abreast of new trends and innovations in the field of safety.
- Serves as liaison between the district and local and state associations for the purpose of addressing matters that impact the district’s safety programs.
- Builds and maintains community work relationships which work to improve the integration of safety programs throughout the district into the broader educational mission of the community.
- Monitors safety concerns with all schools and the system; works with stakeholders to manage or eliminate risk factors and provides training with safety protocols/procedures.
- Leads and educates administrators/staff in nSide training and procedures.
- Trains consistently in with safety protocols/procedures and, in turn, educates personnel with updated safety information.
- Develops and maintains a District safety handbook to include the variety of situations that may occur and provides safety/security options.
- Reports all safety matters to supervisors in a timely manner.
- Coordinates the development of long term strategies and facilities planning for safety procedures and protocols.
- Encourages innovation; analyzes data to improve school operations; serves as an information resource; helps to develop and implement the District’s strategic plan.
- Implements safety and security protocols to ensure a safe school environment.
- Evaluates effectiveness of school safety and security programs.
- Develops plans, procedures, and objectives to facilitate and improve safety and security programs.
- Ensures application of safety and security protocols to public events, sports events, and other extracurricular school district activities.
- Recommends and implements procedures and best practices to prevent and deter violence at schools or other district properties.
- Assists with background checks and screenings of staff and outside vendors/contractors.
- Researches and recommends additions and improvements to the safety management program, particularly in areas such as emergency preparedness, accident prevention, general safety, and risk management.
- Coordinates with local law enforcement and other appropriate health and safety professionals in matters of public safety involving students and staff.
- Evaluates effectiveness of security and surveillance equipment on school district properties.
- Adheres to federal, state, local and board rules and regulations.
- Takes leave time in accordance with Board policy and reports all absences to the district’s absence management system in a timely manner.
- Reports to work on time and regularly as designated by work schedule.
- Assumes other reasonable and equitable job-related duties as assigned.
Terms of Employment
The terms of employment shall be in accordance with the provisions of the Board’s Policy Manual, Students First Act, and the Board’s Salary Schedule- Specialist. This is a 245 contract day position.
Evaluation
Performance of this job will be evaluated annually in accordance with the provisions of the Board’s policy on Evaluation of Certified Personnel.
SOURCE: Tuscaloosa City Schools, Tuscaloosa, Alabama
DATE: 1/4/22
Revised: 1/10/24
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