Schools care about safety, communication

Your support of Spokane Public Schools is essential to reaching our goal of success for every child, a goal that is producing strong academic achievements and many positive civic accomplishments by our students and staff. Unfortunately, these accomplishments have been overshadowed by the negative actions of a few.

The purpose of this column is to review how we share information that is accurate, timely and within legal requirements during a time of rapidly emerging events outside of our control.

Late last Thursday afternoon, March 24, a former Ferris High School student with a loaded handgun was apprehended by the police four blocks from the school. The police action was based on a family report that he may be suicidal and headed for Ferris. Prompt action by the Spokane Police Department averted a tragedy. By the time any action could have been taken at school to alert students, staff or others, the threat was over. The student was taken by the police to Sacred Heart Medical Center.

On Friday, the police learned the student had been released Thursday evening into parental care rather than retained at the hospital. It was not until later Friday morning that district officials learned the release had already occurred. Early Friday afternoon the police located and arrested the student. Through their subsequent investigation, the police learned the student had been on campus with a gun prior to his apprehension on Thursday afternoon and that a teacher was his intended target.

Again, the seriousness of the threat was not revealed until Friday, well after it had occurred.

We have conducted a detailed debriefing of the Thursday and Friday events with the Police Department and the hospital to improve the protocols we all use during crisis events. In addition, we have reviewed our student transfer procedures, made counseling assistance available to students and staff and shared information with school staff as it has become available.

School district reporting of specific student discipline actions is limited by law. When a serious student behavior incident occurs, we usually “emergency expel” the student without a hearing and proceed with an investigation. If appropriate, we report the incident to the police and assist with the court processes.

Before a student returns to school, we require a mental health evaluation to determine that the student is not a danger to self or others. In addition, we evaluate the student’s discipline history and the likelihood that a second chance in school will be successful.

We are obligated by law and our mission to provide all students with access to a good education, but we are also obligated to do that in a way that sustains a safe environment for all. Because of this duty, numerous people are involved in the school system’s evaluation process of the student.

This process was followed in the transfer of the student from Ferris to Shadle Park in February. We will continue to use the process, but we also will include Police Department perspectives when threats or criminal actions are involved.

Spokane Public Schools is committed to preventing these kinds of incidents. We have many programs in place for that purpose. But we cannot accomplish school safety alone. Please join with us in talking to our youth and other adults about positive and appropriate ways they can interact with one another. Encourage counseling for them when necessary.

Along with the Spokane Police Department, we encourage the use of trigger locks on stored guns. And please, recommit your support to our schools and our children, whether it’s through volunteering, taking more time to parent or saying a kind word to a child.

We live in extraordinary times. The threats we all face require our cooperation, vigilance, awareness and commitment to refine and monitor our efforts to assure safety in our schools.

The partnership that exists between the Spokane Police Department and Spokane Public Schools is strong. It works. At the same time, we can always improve. We ask your help and continued support for us as we strive to accomplish our important goals.