Introducing new school safety procedures

By now, most have seen the new door locks that were implemented into all SJHS classrooms over winter break. There are worries among students across America about current safety measures and how effective they actually are in protecting students, which begs the question: is there more that schools like ours can do to make students feel safer?

“I think the school could be a little bit more proactive with their measures, instead of reactive. Like, it's crazy to me that these door stops existed and we didn't have them until there was a threat in the building. The school should always be doing everything they can to keep people safe, not just when the threat becomes more tangible,” Matthew Hutchinson, 12 said.

Our school is working on measures to help better identify where the emergencies are if something were to happen.

“We are updating our training next year. So run, hide, fight would be in the [St. Joseph Public Schools Emergency Procedures Chart] for next year, we would get rid of the red, yellow, and green cards; they would only have red. Police officers only care about red, like where are the problems at,” Mr. Berry said. 

In the new age of technology, almost everything can be done through an app on your phone. But do students know that a lockdown procedure can be activated this way? 

“Throughout the years, I think different tools have become available.” Mr James Berry said. “If I’m walking around the building and we need to go into lockdown, one way of doing it would be an app.”

There are no certain ways to prevent these things, or a perfect way to stay safe. However, schools should review and improve policies that concern safety measures for these kinds of situations. Mr. Berry said SJHS is planning to introduce a new threat assessment plan.

“The threat assessment would be an instrument that would help administrators, school counselors, determine if it is an internal threat, external, or soft.” Mr. Berry said.

In many school shootings we see that the assailant is a student. This means it’s crucial that prevention starts in schools.

“I don't believe that students here can feel truly safe until the root causes of firearm proliferation and mental illness in our population are addressed effectively,” Jett Newton, 10 said.

Having a comfortable environment is essential to prevent violence in schools. With changing a school’s climate, you can create more trust with school staff and students. Our school has recently hired a social worker, and there are also three guidance counselors available for students.

“So the more people you have in the building walking around, observing, that are available to students that can help with the mental health piece—especially with your social workers and counselors, and all of those people I just mentioned—are part of that threat assessment instrument.” Mr. Berry said.

It is essential that schools continuously look at how they can improve their policies in not just active shooter situations, but also in proactive measures of prevention of these horrific events.