Archdiocese superintendent focuses on mental health 1 year after Parkland

One year after 17 were killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, a superintendent is tackling school safety with a different approach.

News 12 Staff

Feb 15, 2019, 1:52 AM

Updated 1,909 days ago

Share:

Archdiocese superintendent focuses on mental health 1 year after Parkland
One year after 17 were killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, a superintendent is tackling school safety with a different approach.
In the months since the shooting, schools across the the country have revisited their security plans. But apart from physical protection, the Catholic Schools of the Archdiocese of New York hold teaching mental health to a high degree.
"If you want your school to be safe, really work on bullying. All of our schools have an anti-bullying curriculum that we work with, with teachers and guidance counselors," says Archdiocese of New York Superintendent Dr. Timothy McNiff.
The curriculum focuses on topics like how to confront bullying, how to respond if confronted by a bully and what damage is done when someone is a bully.
The archdiocese is not solely relying on mental health awareness -- it recognizes the importance of physical barriers. For example, all exterior doors of schools are locked.
School was even closed for one day so that the NYPD could teach protocol, training people in the building how to react in various scenarios.


More from News 12
1:15
FDNY: House fire in Van Nest leaves multiple residents homeless

FDNY: House fire in Van Nest leaves multiple residents homeless

1:54
Mild and humid for NYC today; tracking scattered showers

Mild and humid for NYC today; tracking scattered showers

1:56
City efforts Bike Bus initiative to promote safe cycling for students in NYC

City efforts Bike Bus initiative to promote safe cycling for students in NYC

0:41
Bronx, Brooklyn smoke shops included in NYC crackdown on illegal sales of cannabis

Bronx, Brooklyn smoke shops included in NYC crackdown on illegal sales of cannabis

1:49
Historic Bronx post office on Grand Concourse is on the market

Historic Bronx post office on Grand Concourse is on the market

0:45
Police: DOE worker arrested for shoving 2-year-old boy's head into a table at Bronx preschool

Police: DOE worker arrested for shoving 2-year-old boy's head into a table at Bronx preschool

0:39
Police: Unionport store robbed 3 times within a week; suspects at large

Police: Unionport store robbed 3 times within a week; suspects at large

1:43
Garden Guide: These plants repel weeds and are a natural fertilizer!

Garden Guide: These plants repel weeds and are a natural fertilizer!

0:20
Authorities: 2 women injured in double shooting in Concourse Village

Authorities: 2 women injured in double shooting in Concourse Village

1:43
NYCHA tenant in Melrose dealing with floor falling apart in home

NYCHA tenant in Melrose dealing with floor falling apart in home

1:41
Bronx family pleads for help to find man missing from psychiatric center

Bronx family pleads for help to find man missing from psychiatric center

0:31
Member of Trinitarios gang sentenced to life for murder of Bronx man on Long Island

Member of Trinitarios gang sentenced to life for murder of Bronx man on Long Island

1:47
Bronx Community College over the moon about newest tree planted on campus

Bronx Community College over the moon about newest tree planted on campus

1:44
Bronx County Fair comes to Throggs Neck

Bronx County Fair comes to Throggs Neck

2:14
DSNY clears trash left by homeless encampment in Kingsbridge Heights after multiple complaints

DSNY clears trash left by homeless encampment in Kingsbridge Heights after multiple complaints

0:25
MTA announces new strategy to improve transit infrastructure for B and D train lines

MTA announces new strategy to improve transit infrastructure for B and D train lines

1:41
Gov. Kathy Hochul regrets saying Black kids in the Bronx don't know what a computer is

Gov. Kathy Hochul regrets saying Black kids in the Bronx don't know what a computer is

1:52
UFT: More than 850 Title I schools have the space to meet NY’s class size law

UFT: More than 850 Title I schools have the space to meet NY’s class size law

0:24
Police: 37-year-old man found dead inside Soundview home

Police: 37-year-old man found dead inside Soundview home

0:26
Officials identify 29-year-old suspect linked to fire in Allerton building

Officials identify 29-year-old suspect linked to fire in Allerton building