From Superintendent Brooke Olsen-Farrell, Slate Valley Unified School District:
"Our thoughts and prayers are certainly with the community of Oxbow, Michigan at this time. Prevention is the key in these situations. This case sheds a light on the importance of the Behavioral Threat Assessment and the use of that practice within our schools. It is critically important that schools have in place the systems and support for the Behavioral Threat Assessment process.
As we are seeing the further dysregulation of students and staff as a result of the pandemic this process has become even more important. The State of Vermont provided Behavioral Threat Assessment Training free of charge to schools and community partners this fall and additional training will be forthcoming. It is critical that schools take advantage of these opportunities"
From Principal David Manning, Johnson Elementary School:
"As a public school principal and member of the Vermont School Crisis Planning Team, I have watched and read with great sadness about the horrible events that occurred last week in Oxford, Michigan. My heart aches for the victims, their families, and the entire community whose sense of safety at school has been shattered. While being sensitive to the real pain this community is experiencing, I also see this tragic situation as a learning opportunity for other schools.
I have no inside knowledge of Oxford High School beyond what has been reported through the media. I wonder if the school had a written threat assessment protocol in place and a trained threat assessment team. Having a set of predetermined formal steps to follow ensures that school administrators and staff ask all the essential questions. A threat assessment team with a diverse membership of teachers, counselors, and administrators provides insight into the situation from multiple perspectives. Having a written protocol for when to search a student’s bag and when to contact law enforcement removes the chances of the school missing a key step in the heat of the moment.
My school recently participated in the K-12 Behavioral Threat Assessment Training sponsored by the Vermont Agency of Education, Vermont Department of Public Safety, and the Vermont School Safety Center. As a result, we feel imminently more prepared to thoroughly evaluate and respond to situations involving threats of harm to our school community.
As we struggle with the trauma and sadness of yet another school shooting in our country, we will undoubtedly be confronted with conversations about federal and state gun regulations and the value of active shooter drills in schools. However, a thorough threat assessment process can help schools keep students safe without spending lots of money or going through the process to change laws."
David Manning
Principal
Johnson Elementary School