Please know that New York State adjusted the Workplace Violence Prevention requirements for schools and BOCES and shifted the official start date to May 3, 2024. We are continuing to address reports regardless, as we want to ensure our systems are as supportive as possible.
The Ithaca City School District (ICSD) is committed to creating and sustaining a safe, affirming, and anti-racist environment for everyone in our community: staff, students, families, and visitors. To do this well, we must have systems and structures in place to both prevent and respond to violence. We believe deeply in cultivating an anti-racist school district. We continually explore the ways by which our history and our intersectional identities shape our beliefs about violence and safety. Truly caring for our people means discussing and revisiting our processes to ensure they are as supportive as possible for everyone.
On September 6, 2023, NYS Governor Kathy Hochul signed the Workplace Violence Prevention (WVP) Act. This was a modification of the original law, signed into law on June 7, 2006. This legislation requires public employers to perform a risk evaluation of their workplaces and develop and implement programs to prevent and minimize workplace assaults and homicides. Schools and BOCES were exempt from this law because of the safety plan requirement. Based on advocacy from New York State United Teachers (NYSUT), we are excited to have begun a WVP Program.
Now the ICSD, along with our union leaders and representatives, have the opportunity to help develop this program to meet the requirements of the law and also further our anti-racist goals. The ICSD believes firmly that we can both support and protect our employees while also providing an inclusive education for our students. We aim to cultivate equitable school communities that are relationship-driven, affirming, and culturally responsive. We recognize that this program does not change or undermine any rights of students residing in the Ithaca City School District pursuant to the United States or New York State constitutions, federal law (including but not limited to the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, and/or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973), New York State law (including but not limited to the Dignity for All Students Act and Section 3214 of the New York State Education Law), and/or any regulations or guidance put forth by the Commissioner of Education. The ICSD will annually evaluate the physical and environmental threats that employees face, along with reviewing the WVP Program. Having the chance to address this work in partnership with employees allows us to be as thoughtful and supportive as possible.
Certain factors or situations may place employees at a greater risk of workplace violence. This workplace evaluation is based on reviews of occupational injury and illness logs and incident reports for violence-related injuries and surveys of all ICSD facilities, conducted by the ICSD or TST BOCES.
