'Tis the Season Again - VADIR 2010-11

Hello again out there in VADIR-land,

The time has come again to start to think about submitting your VADIR reports. It has been a little quiet here on the VADIR blog, but things usually heat up as we start to schedule the ever-popular summer road show.

We will be visiting the sites and sounds of the great State of New York again in August, from Long Island to the City of Buffalo (sort of sung to the tune of "This Land is Your Land")to provide folks with an overview of the VADIR reporting system. The dates are yet to be set in stone, but keep checking back at the website of the New York State Center for School Safety, nyscenterforschoolsafety.org, or click on the title of this post, for all the dates and locations.

And in the meantime, until we meet in person, please don't hestitate to post a comment, question or general observations to the blog.

Happy Summmer,
VR

VADIR Bits and Pieces

Hello out there in VADIR land! Happy "back to school."

Question and Answers: Thanks to all of you who came out to the ten regional sessions. We have collected all of the questions that were asked at each session and have submitted them to NYSED. The team up there is reviewing them so that they can be used to inform the Question and Answer Document to provide you with extra guidance. The Q&A Document is available here.
VADIR Due Date: September 30 is the deadline for submitting VADIR data.

Persistently Dangerous Schools List: Congratulations to those schools who worked hard last school year to be removed from the list. If you are looking for information about this year's list of schools, go here.

Looking Ahead to Next Year: NYSED is asking for feedback from you regarding the possibility of adding "Suicide" to the VADIR system. They want to know if you think it should be a category, and if so, whether it should be weighted. Post your comments on here on the VADIR Blog - that's what it's here for!

We're on Facebook! Check us out and become a fan. Here we are - come and be social with us!

Have a good (and safe) 2009-10 school year.

Stay safe,
VR

The Road Show

Just wanted to be sure that you all don't have to hunt for the schedule of VADIR trainings across the State. Check below for other interesting and valuable VADIR info, but every few posts your trusty VR will repost the schedule so it's the first thing you come to.

2009 Violent and Distruptive Incident Reporting Training Sessions

August 11, 2009
Albany - Capital Region
9:00 - 12:00
Contact Erin Brewer or Pat Gogol, Capital Region Student Support Services Center
(518) 464-3941

August 11, 2009
Buffalo - Western Region
9:00 - 12:00
Contact Jane Ogilvie, Western Region Student Support Services Center
(716) 821-7550

August 12, 2009
Mid-State Region:
9:00 - 12:00

Syracuse City School District Session
1:00 - 3:00

Contact Lee Beals, Mid-State Regional Student Support Services Center
(315) 431-8556

August 13, 2009
Rochester - Mid-West Region
9 - 12:00
Contact Joan Vitkus, Mid-West Regional Student Support Services Center
(585) 344-7571

August 17
Long Island

AM Session: Western Suffolk BOCES
Contact Susan Kessler, Long Island Regional Student Suport Services Center
(631) 595-6814

PM Session: Nassau BOCES
Contact Peter LaDuca
516-396-2388

August 18, 2009
Yonkers
10:30 - 12:30
Contact Tammy Rhein, Hudson Valley Student Support Services Center
845-255-4874

August 20, 2009
Charter Schools - New York City a.m. Session
Contact Greg Bayduss, NYSED
518-486-7327

August 25, 2009
Hudson Valley Region
9:00 - 12:00
Contact Tammy Rhein, Hudson Valley Student Support Services Center
845-255-4874

New VADIR Website

Hi folks,



A very observant reader VADIR surfer noticed that the old website listed here for the VADIR Q&A Document is no longer active. Absolutely right, and thanks for keeping me on my toes. Just testing to see if you're out there!!!



Recently, NYSED has made some changes, and consequently that is reflected in its websites too. School Safety has changed areas from "Student Support Services" to "Safe Schools and Alternative Education."



Along with that move has come a new web address for all those handy references you'll need when pulling together your VADIR documentation. You can link directly from the title of this post or click here:



http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/ssae/schoolsafety/vadir/



Thanks for noticing, and stay safe!



VR

Let's Be "Friends"

Hi Folks!

"Friend Us!" That's right - you can now find the New York State Center for School Safety on Facebook.

Just type us in at the top right in the "search" box.

Then click on "Become a Fan." (Ok - "Fan Us" just didn't have the same cachet!)

We'll be sending out periodic updates to let you know what we're doing - we do oh, so much more than VADIR.

http://www.facebook.com/

If you don't already have an account, you will have to establish one. But hey, in addition to becoming a fan of the NYSCSS, you'll have a blast finding all those long lost folks you have been wanting to get back in touch with. You can also make "friends" with someone who is sitting right next to you, but I'll let you discover all the fun on your own.

See you in another part of the web!

Stay safe,
VR

The Road Show Is Back!!!

Hi folks,

You may have thought you said it to yourself, but your trusty VADIR Raider has heard you wondering "hmmmm, when will VADIR training be held in my region this year???"

You only have to think it, and here you are:


2009 Violent and Distruptive Incident Reporting Training Sessions

August 11, 2009
Albany
9:00 - 12:00
Contact Erin Brewer or Pat Gogol, Capital Region Student Support Services Center,
(518) 464-3941


August 11, 2009
Buffalo
9:00 - 12:00
Contact Jane Ogilvie, Western Region Student Support Services Center, (716) 821-7550

August 12, 2009
Mid-State Region:
9:00 - 12:00

Syracuse City School District Session
1:00 - 3:00

Contact Lee Beals, Mid-State Regional Student Support Services Center, (315) 431-8556

August 13, 2009
Rochester
9:00 - 12:00
Contact Joan Vitkus, Mid-West Regional Student Support Services Center, (585) 344-7571

August 17
Long Island

AM Session: Western Suffolk BOCES
Contact Susan Kessler, Long Island Regional Student Suport Services Center, (631) 595-6814

PM Session: Nassau BOCES
Contact Peter LaDuca, 516-396-2388

August 18, 2009
Yonkers
10:00 - Noon
Contact Tammy Rhein, Hudson Valley Student Support Services Center, 845-255-4874

August 20, 2009
Charter Schools - NYC
AM Session
Contact Greg Bayduss, NYSED, 518-486-7327

August 25, 2009
Hudson Valley
9:00 - 12:00
Contact Tammy Rhein, Hudson Valley Student Support Services Center, 845-255-4874

See you at one of the sessions!!!

Stay safe,
VR

Almost Spring Fever

Hello everyone out there in VADIR land,

VADIR happenings have been a bit few and far between, but now it's time to gear up for another spring and summer of VADIR DATA!!!!

Thanks to "anonymous" for checking in to see if anything is new.

The new Q&A document (updated October 2008) does have a new section on Records Retention. Take a look at it because it is very different from the previous requirement of six years. For the document, go here:

http://http//www.emsc.nysed.gov/sss/documents/VADIRQA1008final.doc

The particular item is Question 3:

>>>>>>>3. How long must a school retain VADIR related documents including, but not limited to Individual Incident Reports and Summary Reports?

After further review of the Records Retention and Disposition Schedule ED-1, SED has modified its previous guidance that VADIR records should be retained for 6 years. Records Retention and Disposition Schedule ED-1 states that violent and disruptive incident reports and summary records, including copies of summary information submitted to SED must be maintained until the youngest person involved in the incident(s) is 27 years old.

It further states that summary records may need to be retained longer, even permanently, if they document school violence, or if a school has been designated a persistently dangerous school. It recommends that the school district contact the State Archives for additional advice.

Additionally, violent and disruptive incident data received back from SED only needs to be retained until after the data is verified and any necessary corrections completed.

In addition, persistently dangerous school designation records, including SED citation, plan for corrective action (i.e., IRP), results of audits and monitoring, student transfer protocol and lists of transferring students, and documentation of removal of designation must be retained permanently.<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

So please review this and consider how best to maintain all that VADIR data - maintain it, use it, analyze it and plan with it!

Stay safe,
VR

The Clock is Ticking

Hello Folks,
It's official. NYSED has announced that it will officially open it's portal to receive VADIR data with a final due date of September 30, 2008. Schools should be submitting their 2007-08 data.

For the newest documents go here.

The reporting forms, the glossary and a NEW QUESTIONS & ANSWER DOCUMENT have been posted so please check them out for the latest guidance.

Also know that you can call or write to the New York State Center for School Safety at 845-255-8989 or scss@mhric.org with any questions or comments.

The training schedule is listed in another post here, as well as at nyscenterforschoolsafety.org/vadir.html.

Stay safe,
VR

VADIR News and Notes

While you've been frolicking in the sand and surf, your VR has been gathering some VADIR tidbits to send forth for your information and enjoyment.

The annual event that has become known as the "Summer VADIR Roadshow," rivaling the ever-hoped-for Beatles reunion and ABBA comeback tour, has officially been scheduled.
To view the schedule and a location near you go here. Contact information is included, so please register in advance. While we don't have wristbands, we do want to prevent any scalping at the door!

Can't make it to regional session, you say? Fear not! Keep checking back here for the new and snazzy technology your VR is setting up to help you get the information and to help you train folks in your district.

Thanks to the Ulster BOCES Educational Technology Department, presentations from the New York State Education Department and the New York State Center for School Safety will be availble through videostreaming on the web. You'll get an update on SAVE, an overview of the VADIR reporting system, and instructions on electronically submitting the data.

For a more interactive VADIR learning experience, you'll find the "VADIR 101" webinar which will be available for training folks in your building.

More on both of these coming to a computer near you in mid-August!

If there is another way you can think of that we can spread the word that is VADIR, please comment here. Even if you can't think of one, let us know you're out there!

Stay safe,
VR

Summertime and VADIR

They go together like a hand in glove! Well, not exactly as musical as hoped, but it's that time again.

The New York State Education Department and the New York State Center for School Safety will be embarking on their annual road show to update you on the most recent happenings in NCLB, SAVE legislation and an overview of the VADIR reporting system.

The above link (click on the title of this post) will get you right to the scheduled session and contact person for your region. The schedule is also right here for those of you who may be "link leery or weary!"

Hope to see you out at a session!

2008 Violent and Distruptive Incident Reporting Training Sessions

August 5 - Hudson Valley
Ulster BOCES
Contact: Tammy Rhein
845-255-4874
8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m and 12:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

August 6 - Albany
Capital Region BOCES
Contact: Erin Brewer
518-464-3972
10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

August 12 - Long Island
Nassau BOCES
Contact: Pete LaDuca
516-396-2388
8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Western Suffolk BOCES
Contact: Susan Kessler
631-595-6814
12:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

August 13
Syracuse
Contact: Lee Beals
315-431-8556

August 14
Buffalo
Contact: Jane Ogilvie
716-821-7550