Arrowood: We’re All on Same Side for School Safety

Takes Steps Last week, something really cool took place on our campus. Hamilton Heights Middle School hosted an EMS and First Responders Day that gave over 350 students (all 4^th and 8^th grade students and some high school students interested in this career path) an up close and personal look at careers in public service. Students got an insider’s view at what our emergency, police, and firefighters do on a daily basis. The event also reinforced the importance of these professional’s roles in helping to keep our schools and community safe. Meeting those professionals who live and work in our community was a bonus! Thank you to Connor James, CTE Business and Preparing for College and Careers Teacher and Reaching New Heights contact at HHMS, and a talented inhouse team who worked in collaboration with our community partners for an interactive and engaging career exploration experience for our students.

What wasn’t cool was an anonymous threat sent to the school district via social media this week. As most of you are aware, there has been a recent uptick in threats and rumors of violence on social media toward schools across the country. As evidenced by Tuesday’s early morning threat made on social media, Hamilton Heights is no exception. The threat was determined to be unsubstantiated and non-credible.

As I wrote in my last message, school safety is a 24-7 responsibility. We have a comprehensive and multitiered safety plan that addresses all hazards that may affect our schools. We have the latest surveillance and security technology throughout our campus, onsite Student Resource Officers (SRO) at each building, conduct a variety of safety and crisis drills each year to help prepare students and teachers for a worst case scenario, have safety specialists, committees, and work closely with local, county, and state law enforcement on all things school safety. Schools are among the safest places for students to be.

Here’s what you need to know.

• If any threats arise, they are taken seriously and are investigated. We assess and then react to determine what action is needed. We will communicate as soon as possible with information or a directive.

• Our district utilizes a number of ways to contact families including email and text. If you aren’t currently receiving text alerts/communication on your mobile phone and would like to, please reach out to your school’s registrar.

• Every tip that the district or local law enforcement receives about a potential threat is investigated without exception.

• Students, families, and staff are encouraged to report all suspicions of threats against a person, school, or district and to local law enforcement, including through the Hamilton Heights Quick Tip Line.

• Do not repost threats on social media. This creates additional danger for schools.

As a reminder, our district utilizes a number of ways to contact families including email and text.  After communication was sent about the situation and continued developments at the school yesterday, we received some calls from parents concerned about not receiving school messenger texts to their mobile phones. If you aren’t currently receiving text alerts/communication and would like to, please reach out to your school’s registrar.

The bottom line is we are all on the same side when it comes to school safety. We all want our kids and staff members to be safe when they are at school. Parent and student involvement are vital as part of a front line of defense when it comes to preventing the spread of harmful messages. We need the entire community working to help stop these threats. Together, we can ensure a safe and secure learning environment for all our students. Thank you to those who saw something and said something. #WeAreHuskies Dr. Derek Arrowood is the Superintendent of the Hamilton Heights School Corporation. His columns appear periodically in The Times.