Henry B. Gonzalez Elementary School took the top honors as the safest school in the district during a recent training session for campus Safety Coordinators coordinated by Dallas ISD’s Risk Management department.
At Gonzales, Principal Reymundo Cervantes and Assistant Principal Jose Robles pointed to the commitment of a group of staff members who went above and beyond mere safety compliance.
All faculty and staff members at the school were included and involved in every safety event during the year. That allowed staff members to present their ideas to improve safety, and several of those were successfully implemented.
There was an intentional focus on safety at Gonzalez.
“Everything was planned, communicated, performed, monitored, debriefed, and reported in a timely and least intrusive manner,” Robles said. “We set the goal of enhancing safety in our school in all areas and increase training for all staff to benefit the whole school community. The Eagle Safety award is the seal to our great achievements in safety!”
Other schools in the Top 10 are David W. Carter High School, Highland Meadows Elementary School, Eladio Martinez Elementary School, Multiple Careers Magnet Center/Maya Angelou High School, George Peabody Elementary School, Irma Rangel Young Women’s Leadership School, John W. Runyon Elementary School, Celestino M. Soto Elementary School and Wilmer-Hutchins High School.
Five schools also received honorable mentions: Thomas Jefferson High School, Moisés Molina High School, John H. Reagan Elementary School, Walnut Hill Elementary School and Harry C. Withers Elementary School.
The awards came during an annual training for Dallas ISD campus Safety Coordinators. Schools earn points throughout the year based on the quality and quantity of safety-related activities they conduct.
That role is filled by staff members who, in addition to their assignments and responsibilities, oversee the district’s safety program at their sites. These individuals are committed to promoting a safety culture and raising safety awareness. Some of their responsibilities are: monthly fire drills, conducting basic site safety inspections, providing safety training and distributing safety material. The coordinators are an essential part of a successful districtwide safety program.
“A safe healthy workplace protects employees from injury and illness, teaches employees to pay attention to their surroundings, which lowers injuries and costs, reduces instructional absenteeism, increases productivity and raises employee morale,” said Barbara Neal, executive director of Risk Management. “All of these are vital in Risk Management Services.”
Gonzalez Elementary staff members won’t rest on their safety laurels. This year, they plan to work on improving safety during arrival and dismissal during inclement weather. They also want to involve parents in workshops about safety at home, while driving and more.
