The Environmental Health and Safety Committee will be meeting in the MTA METRO office (100 Grandview Avenue, Suite 320, Braintree, MA) next Thursday, September 17, 2015 from 5 to 7pm. There will be two main topics to the meeting. MTA President Barbara Madeloni will be there to speak about the Safe Schools Project.
The MTA and District Attorneys from around the state are teaming up to make schools a safer place to work and learn. Two of the themes of the safe school summits will be Restorative Justice Practices (RJP) and the Advancement Project (AP). Restorative Justice Practice provides structured processes for organizing effective group communications, building relationships, making decisions and resolving conflicts. RJP are successfully used in place of traditional discipline, as a more effective alternative to suspensions and expulsion, to reduce truancy, improve classroom management, build positive school climate, respond to bullying and strengthen positive connections with parents and community. Workshops are designed for teachers, guidance counselors, administrators, students and school support personnel.
Another theme of the effort is based on the Advancement Project. The Advancement Project aims to break the School to Prison Pipeline by looking at alternatives to harsh school discipline policies that harm academic and life outcomes for students.
Finally, if you have any environmental or health issues in your buildings please feel free to attend and get some help. Issues could be anything from building temperature, mold, asbestos, pests, indoor air quality, renovation guidelines and school safety.
Experts will be there to help answer questions and provide assistance.