Jarod's Law compliance
Lakota inspections will be biggest challenge due to size of district
New regulations include not-so obvious things, like the length of a rug at a building's entrance.
Comment: How should the district proceed to comply with Jarod's Law?
Related articles: Coming into compliance proves costly for schools
Complying with Jarod's Law could cost Fairfield big dollars
Sunday, March 23, 2008
BUTLER COUNTY — As schools across the state makes changes to their buildings to prepare for health department inspections, one little boy's name is at the forefront of their minds — Jarod Bennett.
Six days before Christmas in 2003, a 209-pound cafeteria table hit the 6-year-old on the head while he was playing at an after-school program. The accident killed him. In 2005, legislators passed Jarod's law, requiring schools to increase safety standards. Lakota and other schools are now facing their first of the yearly inspections after months of preparation. Jeff Agnew, chief of environmental services for the Butler County Health Department said Lakota and the county will work together to make safer environments for children.
Extras
Get latest headlines via RSS feeds"As the problems are discovered through research, we'll try to find the right answers to deal with each type of situation," he said.
It will take about a day to go through each school building in the county, and Agnew said it is "crunch time" to get the inspections done before the end of the school year with limited staff. Inspections must be done during the hours children are in school.
"Lakota is our biggest school district and it was our biggest challenge trying to get through all their schools," Agnew said.
If districts do not pass any standards set, they must present the health department with a plan of action that will be reviewed and approved.
"We're all in a learning curve right now with this," he said, "however, we can't allow something that would be a potential safety hazard to students staff or citizens."
Business Manager Chris Passarge said Lakota's inspection is underway, and so far there have been no major violations.
"We worked well with the health department," he said.
That meant doing their homework and ensuring standards were up to par before the law even took effect, Passarge said. Because most of Lakota's buildings are 10 years old or newer, Passarge said there aren't any big ticket items that need to be fixed, such as stadium bleachers.
He said the staff prepared with training and many of the regulations are things Lakota already does.
"So far we've been fortunate, nothing's reared its head that's been high-dollar items," he said. "I think for the most part we've been pretty proactive in trying to keep our schools as safe as possible.
Still, if a big ticket item does arise, he said the funds will have to be generated by Lakota.
"This may have to move a couple projects up more quickly than we've anticipated — take away from something else we'd like to do," he said.
The thick book of regulations includes details like how long a rug has to be upon entering a building and what type of hand sanitizer may be used. The list includes regulations for both inside and outside the buildings.
The health departments will also feel the pinch in their pocket books with the extra work load with no extra staff. Overtime, he said it may get easier as everyone understands the process.
"It's a learning process for all of us," Agnew said. "Our intentions is to work with the schools. It's a major additional work load on the health departments with no funding. We just do the best we can. This year will be the toughest."
Comments
By NLD
March 27, 2008 11:52 PM | Link to this
Allright allready!!! So it’s an html! But it’s a good one!
By NLD
March 27, 2008 11:49 PM | Link to this
that is….
web.mac.com/nldadabo/ iWeb/Site/Page%201.htmlBy NLD
March 27, 2008 11:42 PM | Link to this
Attention Fairfield City & Township residents…. Go to this site
web.mac.com/nldadabo/iWeb/Site/Page%201.html
We need citizens to step up to build a new Fairfield Community Stadium on the FHS campus, using tax deductible donations and corp. sponsorship, and no funds from any taxation. Together…We can make it happen!
By NLD
March 27, 2008 11:17 PM | Link to this
None of this will be cheap to do. Some of our facilities have aged. We’ve had to “make do” with many of these buildings and athletic facilities due to limited funds. BREAKING NEWS!!!…all of these facilities are going to cost more today than yesterday. It’s a real tribute to most of our maintenance staffs for their efforts in keeping up the repairs on these facilities. It means we’ve gotten our moneys worth. Safety is priceless!
By NLD
March 27, 2008 10:58 PM | Link to this
Ok folks, what’s more cost effective, having the facilities inspected for safety or having a Stan Chesley sue all of us for permitting these unsafe situations to exist! We are the owners of these school facilities, that is, we the taxpayers. You wouldn’t permit an unsafe deck on your house for your family or guests to occupy. So why should our schools or any public owned facility be any different.
By NLD
March 27, 2008 10:47 PM | Link to this
Jarods Law was passed after a small child was crushed to death in a Lebanon school by unsecured cafeteria tables.Some state legislators were moved to pass a law that would require the state health dept. to have all schools in the 614 state districts inspected for unsafe situations and facilities that students, staff and the general public would have access to.
By Helga
March 24, 2008 10:14 AM | Link to this
Thank you, Journal-News, for making sure you reference a law that you do not explain at all.
Who in the world is Jarod, and what is this law of his?
I guess we are just supposed to know all of the background on every story.
I have had students that try to write papers without providing background. It is infuriating to read dribble that has no relevance.
If you wrote about that law in the past, then this reader missed that story.
I give you an “F” grade.
By Man of few words
March 23, 2008 10:15 PM | Link to this
I expect the MCSD to use this as an another excuse for a levy increase.
By School parent
March 23, 2008 8:24 PM | Link to this
Seems to me this might actually improve conditions in most of Middletown’s buildings. The custodial staffs in most have a lot to be desired when it comes to cleanliness in the buildings. I have seen FILTHY buildings even in the new ones. Hey central office, why isn’t this addressed?? How can you call these buildings clean when there it is obvious they aren’t and the custodians DO NOTHING during the day when I have been in the buildings volunteering.
By MJ
March 23, 2008 5:25 PM | Link to this
Sounds like a typical government over reaction, that is going to cost tax payers Millions of dollars, to an accident.
By MJ
March 23, 2008 5:25 PM | Link to this
Sounds like a typical government over reation, that is going to cost tax payers Millions of dollars, to an accident.