Kentucky School Advocate
September 2018
Shelby safety
The Shelby County school district has been recognized for its safety efforts with the Kentucky Center for School Safety’s Steve Kimberling Award for School Safety. The honor was presented during the Kentucky Association of School Administrators’ Annual Leadership Institute July 26, with the district’s school resource officers and administrators on hand (pictured at right) with members of the Kimberling family. The award, given to districts for innovative and proactive solutions for school safety, comes with a $1,500 check.
The KCSS cited the district’s “highly effective systems of communication and emergency management plans” developed under the leadership of Assistant Superintendent Kerry Whitehouse, partnering with first responders in Shelbyville, Simpsonville and Shelby County. Monthly planning meetings include personnel ranging from principals and classified employees to emergency medical services and law enforcement. Businesses and local churches also assist.
The district noted that it has placed a video by Superintendent James Neihof on its website to explain the district’s longstanding safety practices and more recent actions. The district employs two full-time SROs, has installed a Call Alert system to alert first responders in emergencies, beefed up school entry protocol, hosted trainings for staff by law enforcement and drills by first responders, and placed directional compass roses in hallways for emergencies.