Primary Education Safety and Security
With the rise of violence and threats in not only schools in the state, but the nation as well, safety, security, and protection is strongly accommodated for. Violence in schools is unfortunately something that is seen more often than society would like it to be.
Since 2013 alone, there have been more than 200 school shootings in America according to EveryTownResearch.org.
But school shootings are just one type of threat that is often imposed on schools all across the state, let alone the nation.
Recently, schools and public places have been faced with a new type of danger, clowns. Clown sightings have been on the rise over the past year and have been known to result in violence.
These people dressed as clowns have caused panic and hysteria after several elementary school aged children have been chased and almost abducted.
On September 29th, reports were made that there had been a clown sighting at Firestone High School in Akron. Akron police Lt. Rick Edwards told Ohio.com “there was absolutely no credible threat.”
Although no suspect was named at the high school, schools do still have strict protocol for when certain threats are made to the building, staff, and students.
Mark Williams, the director of communications for Akron City Schools says even though the clown sighting at the high school was just a hoax, they still have to investigate.
“We still have to investigate. Partially because you just should, partially because people expect you to. We know that it’s probably not going to happen. People that do that kind of stuff… they don’t tell you they’re going to do it. It’s usually a total surprise.”
Williams also explained that when handling these types of reports and investigations, it is done in the best interest of the school as whole.
“We do it quietly. We do it so there’s no interference with education. However, when you put it on social media and other people find out, it’s never quiet.”
Social media has played a large part in spreading the awareness of the clown sightings. On October 3rd reports of clowns circulated the Kent State University campus, just over 20 miles east of Firestone High School. These reports spread rapidly over the social media site Twitter.
Mark Williams also explained how having police officers in the building have helped with safety and security.
“The police take the lead on anything at all that happens in the school building that’s disruptive. Our expertise is, we know the students, we know the building, we know everything that’s going on in there. We work with the police, we combine the two bits of knowledge and we come up with something that’s been generally very successful for us.”
As far as an actual threat implying harm and violence, the school is fortunate to not have had that experience, but if ever the case, a policy and protocol is to be followed.
“If there was an active situation in the building with some implement of harm and it escalated, we’ve never had that. That’s never happened here. We keep everything going as it should go. Having police in the building has been a wonderful thing. The police will hear stuff in the rumor mill and head stuff off way before it happens.”
