A study from Partnership for a Drug Free America suggests that teen years are both turbulent for teens and insecure for parents. The study, the 2007 Partnership Attitude Tracking Study (PATS), shows that parents’ feel they …
Read the full story »April 20th, 2009, marks the tenth anniversary of the school shooting tragedy at Columbine High School. Undoubtedly there will be ample media coverage including reflections on how the Columbine tragedy affected school security and safety. One question all schools should be able to answer is, “Does your school plan to take extra precautions on the anniversary date?”
Barring a specific concern or threat, school administrators and staff should attempt to treat the day as a normal school day. School staff should be reminded, however, to remain alert and to report any unusual behaviors or conversations that might indicate the presence of a threat. It is important to remember that there are still disillusioned individuals out there who idolize the Columbine shooters and experience, and high profile anniversary dates, like April 20th, can become a focal point for lashing out or making a statement.
While experts agree there’s no certain way to prevent another Columbine, researchers have found there are many ways schools can minimize violence. Topping the list includes creating a caring school climate where students can turn to an adult if they have a problem or know someone in danger. Staff members must take these types of rumors and threats of violence seriously. Another necessity is providing students a means of reporting threats confidentially, reassuring students the information is taken seriously, and reinforcing that reporting is a positive and brave action not a negative action.
The aftermath of Columbine has brought about many changes to how schools respond to reports of threats made by students. One of these changes includes the implementation of threat assessment teams. Schools around the country have trained and implemented teams to follow a formal process in analyzing threats using research from the FBI, the Secret Service and the U.S. Department of Education. The Wichita Public Schools has a similar model program with threat protocols in place through the Office of Safe and Drug- Free Schools.
Source: Edu-Safe LLC. Safety and Security in Education. “The Update”, Volume 6, Issue 8, April, 2009.
For more information on threat protocols refer to the Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Threat Assessments document or contact The Office of Safe & Drug Free Schools at 973-2260.
