Warsaw Schools to Beef Up Security, Won't Arm teachers
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By David [email protected]
Spring break for Warsaw is April 1-5.
During the school board meeting Monday night, Superintendent Dr. Craig Hintz read a prepared statement on school security.
“We want to make you aware of a new school safety initiative in the Warsaw Community Schools. Following our spring break, off-duty uniformed law enforcement officers will be spending time at our schools each weekday and will become a visible part of our school community. Officers will have 24/7 access to our schools and will work flexible hours that might include the start of school, end of the school day, lunches, recess and even special events,” the statement begins.
“In addition to providing a higher level of safety at our schools with trained law enforcement officers, we believe that this will be a great opportunity for law enforcement personnel to continue to build positive and trusting relationships with our students, staff and families,” it continues. “Teachers will talk to students about the presence of the officers and that they are in our schools to provide additional support to promote and sustain a safe learning environment. We believe that school safety is a community effort and we will encourage our students, staff and parents to report any unsafe behavior to an adult.”
For a number of years, WCS has had school resource and DARE officers working with students and staff throughout the district, Hintz said. “They have been a valuable part of the school community and play an important role in our total school safety program,” he noted.
If anyone has any questions about the corporation’s comprehensive school safety program, they should contact Director of Buildings and Grounds Greg Schroeder at 574-269-1796; or Hintz or Chief Financial Officer Kevin Scott at 574-371-5098.
Parent Steve Long has attended the school board meetings since January inquiring about school safety. He attended again last night for further discussion.
Long said, “I’ve asked you guys since January what are we doing to make our schools safer. April is coming up ... April is the month for all the homeland terrorists. The Timothy McVeighs, Columbine. The anniversaries are in April, so it’s a big deal that we act and we act soon.”
He said he’s been around several of the schools and noticed law enforcement was more visible, which he said was good.
“But I don’t think it’s quite enough. Many times at schools the officers are not there. That school’s open to anyone coming in. I did notice that none of the schools at this point have any metal detectors,” Long said.
Most school shootings, he continued, are done by students, not by outsiders, so the guns are already in the school when the kids come to class.
“I’m asking you guys to consider something that’s really unpopular with a lot of people. For the other side, it’s a no-brainer,” Long stated. “We had a saying when I was in the military: It’s better to have and not need, then need and not have.”
He said putting one officer in the schools was great, but two or three was better. Noblesville is hiring four people for their schools.
“We don’t want them to know who has the gun in the school. I’m asking you guys to please consider arming your staff. They’re begging me to come here and plead to you guys. Give them the means to do so,” Long said. “... Give them the option. If they pass that background check, let them carry if they want to. The bigger deterrent isn’t four teachers or two police officers ... it’s every teacher who might be armed. The unknown is a bigger deterrent.”
Board member Dan Metzger responded to Long’s statements.
“We’ve had lengthy conversations on school security ... but I’ll be straight with you. At this stage, we’re not considering the option of arming the staff. OK? So you can keep beating that drum all you want, but at this point in time, it’s not going to happen,” Metzger said.
He did tell Long that he and his trainer could provide their credentials to Hintz for discussion if WCS ever decides to go the route of training staff in the use of firearms.
Later, after Hintz read the prepared statement, Hintz also said, “Certainly we know that this has been an issue that has caused us to really take a look at what we are doing. We believe that the efforts taken prior to this evening with the improved security of our buildings, the physical security with the buzz-in system and the panic buttons in our outer offices have enhanced our effort.
“Additionally,” he continued, “the mayor, Police Chief Whitaker and Sheriff Goshert have certainly been very cooperative and also offering officers that have been working their regular shift to make visits to our schools, to get to know our principals, to be a visible part and promote an officer-friendly presence in our schools.”[[In-content Ad]]
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Spring break for Warsaw is April 1-5.
During the school board meeting Monday night, Superintendent Dr. Craig Hintz read a prepared statement on school security.
“We want to make you aware of a new school safety initiative in the Warsaw Community Schools. Following our spring break, off-duty uniformed law enforcement officers will be spending time at our schools each weekday and will become a visible part of our school community. Officers will have 24/7 access to our schools and will work flexible hours that might include the start of school, end of the school day, lunches, recess and even special events,” the statement begins.
“In addition to providing a higher level of safety at our schools with trained law enforcement officers, we believe that this will be a great opportunity for law enforcement personnel to continue to build positive and trusting relationships with our students, staff and families,” it continues. “Teachers will talk to students about the presence of the officers and that they are in our schools to provide additional support to promote and sustain a safe learning environment. We believe that school safety is a community effort and we will encourage our students, staff and parents to report any unsafe behavior to an adult.”
For a number of years, WCS has had school resource and DARE officers working with students and staff throughout the district, Hintz said. “They have been a valuable part of the school community and play an important role in our total school safety program,” he noted.
If anyone has any questions about the corporation’s comprehensive school safety program, they should contact Director of Buildings and Grounds Greg Schroeder at 574-269-1796; or Hintz or Chief Financial Officer Kevin Scott at 574-371-5098.
Parent Steve Long has attended the school board meetings since January inquiring about school safety. He attended again last night for further discussion.
Long said, “I’ve asked you guys since January what are we doing to make our schools safer. April is coming up ... April is the month for all the homeland terrorists. The Timothy McVeighs, Columbine. The anniversaries are in April, so it’s a big deal that we act and we act soon.”
He said he’s been around several of the schools and noticed law enforcement was more visible, which he said was good.
“But I don’t think it’s quite enough. Many times at schools the officers are not there. That school’s open to anyone coming in. I did notice that none of the schools at this point have any metal detectors,” Long said.
Most school shootings, he continued, are done by students, not by outsiders, so the guns are already in the school when the kids come to class.
“I’m asking you guys to consider something that’s really unpopular with a lot of people. For the other side, it’s a no-brainer,” Long stated. “We had a saying when I was in the military: It’s better to have and not need, then need and not have.”
He said putting one officer in the schools was great, but two or three was better. Noblesville is hiring four people for their schools.
“We don’t want them to know who has the gun in the school. I’m asking you guys to please consider arming your staff. They’re begging me to come here and plead to you guys. Give them the means to do so,” Long said. “... Give them the option. If they pass that background check, let them carry if they want to. The bigger deterrent isn’t four teachers or two police officers ... it’s every teacher who might be armed. The unknown is a bigger deterrent.”
Board member Dan Metzger responded to Long’s statements.
“We’ve had lengthy conversations on school security ... but I’ll be straight with you. At this stage, we’re not considering the option of arming the staff. OK? So you can keep beating that drum all you want, but at this point in time, it’s not going to happen,” Metzger said.
He did tell Long that he and his trainer could provide their credentials to Hintz for discussion if WCS ever decides to go the route of training staff in the use of firearms.
Later, after Hintz read the prepared statement, Hintz also said, “Certainly we know that this has been an issue that has caused us to really take a look at what we are doing. We believe that the efforts taken prior to this evening with the improved security of our buildings, the physical security with the buzz-in system and the panic buttons in our outer offices have enhanced our effort.
“Additionally,” he continued, “the mayor, Police Chief Whitaker and Sheriff Goshert have certainly been very cooperative and also offering officers that have been working their regular shift to make visits to our schools, to get to know our principals, to be a visible part and promote an officer-friendly presence in our schools.”[[In-content Ad]]
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