Top Safety And Wellness Concerns Of K-12 Leaders Today

With the end of the 2023 school year on the horizon, new challenges and trends have emerged for K-12 leaders. These changes are driven by the pandemic, shifts in society and technology, and an increase in violent incidents around the country. 

Student safety and school safety are becoming increasingly hot topics in the wake of an increase in violence on school grounds. According to data from Everytown, there have already been 42 school shootings in the United States this year, and 2023 isn’t even halfway over. In addition, the pandemic exacerbated already existing problems such as low teacher morale and improper staffing levels, a lack of school resources, declining student mental health, and student learning loss. Here are a few of the biggest challenges that K-12 educators are facing today.  

Student Mental Health Crisis 

Whether it’s an economic hardship, fallout from the pandemic, or worries about violence at school, students today are facing more serious worries and uncertainty about their futures than ever before. A report from the CDC showed that an alarming 60 percent of teens identified as depressed in 2021. And worse yet, schools feel underequipped to adequately deal with the declining mental health of their students.  

According to a 2023 study released by EAB, 92 percent of superintendents agree that the student mental health crisis has gotten worse since the pandemic, but only 21 percent of those respondents believe they have the proper resources to deal with the problem.  

Dwindling Teacher Resources and Morale 

The mental health of many teachers mimics the trend exhibited by their students; teacher morale has never been lower than it is today. On top of that, research from The Commonwealth Institute shows that most schools in areas with a high concentration of poverty do not have enough money to properly serve their students with the resources they need.  

A study by EAB revealed that the pandemic hurt teachers just as much as students, with 73 percent of teachers feeling underappreciated and undervalued during the pandemic. In addition, 75 percent of teachers say that their school’s policies and lack of resources make it difficult for them to be the best teachers they can be. 

These statistics are significant because less teacher resources directly correlate with worse student learning and performance as well as staffing shortages in schools. 75 percent of students said they were less interested in class if their teachers had bad morale. The study also showed that factors such as low pay, dealing with angry parents, fatigue and stress also played large roles in the declining mental health of teachers.  

A 2021 study from ScienceDirect shows that in almost 70 percent of all studies conducted on teacher burn-out, the teachers with the lowest morale also had the lowest academic scores for their classes. This alarming trend may soon force districts to spend more resources on the mental health of teachers, as well as students.  

School Safety Concerns 

Incidents of violence on school grounds have increased exponentially over the last decade and have subsequently caused worry amongst students. In 2013, Everytown data recorded 51 school shootings. In 2022, that number was 177.  

Sadly, students have a legitimate reason to worry. Guns are now the number one killer of children and teens in the United States and data from the PEW Research Center indicates that a staggering 57 percent of students are worried about a mass shooting happening at their school. Worrying about violence while you are trying to learn is not normal, and gun violence isn’t the only concern of students in 2023. According to research from The National Center for Educational Statistics, 46 percent of schools saw an increase in physical fights and 56 percent say they have seen an increase in student threats and student misconduct.

How Kokomo24/7® Can Help

There is no single correct formula to keep your school safe. Kokomo24/7® understands that every school has its own unique set of needs and can help implement both the tools and workflow processes schools require to better manage student safety and school safety.   

Part of the solution to issues such as declining student mental health, teachers without adequate resources, and making schools safer is implementing solutions that can empower both staff and students to help make the community a safer place. 

Anonymous Reporting  

The Kokomo24/7® Anonymous Reporting tool provides students, staff, and community members with a private way to report concerning behavior. According to the U.S. Department of Education, in four out of five shootings, somebody knew of the shooter’s plan before the attack occurred. Make sure your anonymous reporting system provides both text and email communication to encourage student usage. 

Emergency Alert  

Our Emergency Alert Button helps ensure the safety of all community members by providing a way to call for help during times of extreme emergency. With the simple press of a button, first responders will be dispatched to your location.   

Incident Management  

Kokomo24/7®’s Incident Management tool features one centralized dashboard to help you collect, track, manage, and respond to both the predictable and unpredictable. Our software maintains a database of student incidents, allowing users to better connect data points in order to understand what is going on.   

Feedback Management  

Our customized forms provide surveys to collect the information you need, when you need it. Understand how your school community feels about anything and take the appropriate actions when needed.  

Communications Management  

The Communications Management tool helps users to streamline messages to select people or groups of people to stay informed of important emergency and non-emergency updates. Timely notify your campus community of anything they need to know.   

Visitor Management  

With our Visitor Management tool, you can ensure all visitors are properly managed and tracked through screening tools, attendance tracking, and options for digital badging, resulting in safer, more secure schools for students everywhere.   

Kokomo24/7® can provide your school with a robust, yet easy-to-use technology platform that can help your school, your staff, and your students navigate the health and safety challenges they face. Through our suite of tech tools, schools can help to create a safer environment for all community members.   

To learn more about Kokomo24/7® or to get a free 15-minute demo click the button below.