As schools nationwide face a surge in threats of violence, educators in the Madison County area are paying close attention to social media and word-of-mouth rumors while reviewing safety protocols.
“The climate of school safety right now across the nation, across the state … I think we’re extra diligent about safety right now,布伦特·贝克说, superintendent of Alexandria 社区学校. “We just want to make sure everybody is safe and feeling safe.”
Although no national data exists on the overall surge in threats since two students and two teachers died in a Sept. 乔治亚州一所学校发生枪击事件, law enforcement experts say it’s not uncommon for threats to spike at the beginning of the school year.
澳门金沙 has experienced at least two threats this school year that officials deemed credible enough to issue 脸谱网 statements. District spokesman Brad Meadows said administrators learn daily of vague threats to be discussed and investigated. Administrators share information with parents about threats through an app connected with the district’s student information system.
ACS recently secured $81,000 from a statewide grant program. 负责人 Joe 体弱的说 the funds will be used to upgrade technology to enhance student safety. Four other local school systems and two local private schools also received safety funding through the grant program.
在安德森高中, random searches of student backpacks with metal detector wands — similar to those used at airport security checkpoints — began several years ago. 最近, the district obtained weapons detection units that everyone entering the building must pass through.
这个想法, 体弱的说, is to demonstrate that the schools will do anything possible to keep students safe.
“This is sometimes the only stable place that kids have in their lives,” he said. “We take that mission and that responsibility very seriously.”
School resource officers are another key component of area school districts’ safety plans. 艾伦·兰德斯说, 安德森高中的副校长, the officers’ ability to build rapport with students creates an added sense of security and safety.
迈克李, 安德森警察局局长, which places officers in buildings throughout the district, 说这种关系是高度合作的.
“I cannot imagine us having a better relationship,” Lee said. “It has always been extremely positive, working toward a common goal. We communicate directly with one another very well.”
All 12 buildings in the 安德森 district have at least one resource officer on duty every school day. Larger buildings have more than one resource officer working at a time. 完全, the 安德森 Police Department shares 20-30 officers with 安德森 schools on a typical school day.
Other area school administrators stress the importance of open lines of communication with parents, as well as regular assessments of safety plans, 维持一个安全的学校环境.
“By regularly evaluating our safety protocols and collaborating with local law enforcement and mental health professionals, we aim to ensure that we are prepared for any situation,格雷格·罗奇说, 戴利维尔社区学校的主管.
“与父母开诚布公的交流是必不可少的, and we encourage them to share any concerns they may have.”
South Madison 社区学校 follow safety plans formulated by district employees who have completed training at the Indiana School Safety Specialist Academy, an Indiana Department of Education program that provides certification in best state and nationwide practices.
“We send communications to our parents and students about the seriousness of threats to schools,——马克·霍尔, superintendent of South Madison Community School Corp.他在一封电子邮件中说.
“We encourage anyone who may have information about a potential threat to any of our schools to contact us or law enforcement immediately so we can investigate any potential threats.”
Officers with the Pendleton Police Department are present at all of the district’s buildings during school days, enabling them to verify and neutralize threats quickly, 马克·法雷尔局长说.
“We are lucky to have a great working relationship with the schools,” Farrer said. “多年来, the Pendleton Police Department has been welcomed inside the buildings and have full access at all times.”
The presence of resource officers and the efforts of educators are designed to uncover and neutralize increasingly common threats of violence in schools here in the Madison County area and across the nation.
对我们来说很不幸, we live in a society where these things do happen,Wura Olorunfemi说, senior class president at 安德森高中.
“For my school, they take measures that I feel secure in what they are doing. When I hear those threats directed toward our school, 我有点焦虑, but I also know that I feel safe and protected.”
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