The student, Kit Colburn, was sent to the office around 8:45 a.m. but not reported missing to police until 12:19 p.m., according to a story by The Telegraph newspaper based in Macon, Georgia.

As I stressed in my interview with The Telegraph reporter, Caryn Grant:

The key to good school safety is supervision, supervision, supervision!

I have had the pleasure of working with a number of school officials, both public and private, in Georgia over the years. One school district brought in our team several years ago to review emergency preparedness planning after another consultant firm submitted a rather shoddy evaluation report on the district’s efforts. We learned very quickly that this school district, like others, had many positive things in place, as I am sure is the case with the school district where Kit Colburn ran away on Tuesday.

But the good history of safety in districts quickly falls to the wayside when an incident like Kit’s occurs at a school. This is especially the case when a security gap comes into the bulls-eye of parent and media scrutiny. All of the good work school officials do each day on school safety at least temporarily becomes irrelevant as tough questions are asked of school officials when a child in their care disappears and significant lag time in reporting it occurs.

The key to school safety is, indeed, supervision. Contrary to what many educators may believe, effective supervision skills are not something that automatically comes with a person just because he or she has a teaching degree. Training can and should be provided so teachers and support staff can learn simple and practical, but important, skills for effectively supervising children in their care.

Do your school leaders provide training on supervision best practices?

Ken Trump

Visit School Security Blog at: www.schoolsecurityblog.com

Follow Ken on Twitter @safeschools

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The first question raised by parents, the media and perhaps eventually lawyers is: “Was supervision adequate?”

The answer to that question must be assessed on a case-by-case basis.  But it is a valid question.

My colleagues and I often say the key to good school safety is supervision, supervision and supervision!

Back in October of 2011, a news story in Tampa reported on an alleged rape in a high school.  The story headline read: In wake of reported rape, Hillsborough schools reviewing routines and security.

What specific routines and security?  Certainly “supervision” would be one of those, one would hope.

Critics often question the presence of security officers and school resource officers (SROs or school police as they are often called).  These critics frequently misunderstand the role of the officers, focusing on incidences of arrests instead of the preventative role safety officials play in student supervision.

Whether it is monitoring hallways, bus loading and unloading areas, cafeterias, or other common areas, school safety staff along with school administrators play a vital role in supervising areas where students travel during their school day.  The value of a teacher’s presence in hallways during class change or while doing a check of restrooms during class time can be significant.

Just like the importance of supervision by parents at home, supervision by educators and school safety staff plays a critical role in having good school safety.

Are adults visible and actively supervising students at your school?

Ken Trump

Visit School Security Blog at:  www.schoolsecurityblog.com

Follow Ken on Twitter @safeschools

Visit and “Like” Our Facebook Fan Page at: www.facebook.com/schoolsafety