October 23, 2006

Follow-up

Yes Virginia, Deer Creek Schools do investigate anonymous reports. Use the Safe Call Helpline to anonymously report harmful or threatening behavior happening in Deer Creek Schools. The state has set up individual phone toll free numbers for each school.

877-SAFE-CALL x OK-1
877-723-3225   x 651

Messages are assigned a case number and then forwarded onto the school. The school then investigates the report. Use your case number to call in and find out the status of your report. The state has a bright blue brochure in the Deer Creek Administration Office with additional program details. Examples of harmful or threatening behavior might include:

• violence
• theft
• drug or alcohol abuse
• talk of suicide
• sexual harassment
• weapons

October 8, 2006

Parent Post

Two weeks ago, yesterday (Wed.) a high school student threatened to kill a middle school student. At the time, this student's name was unknown to me. I called the HS to speak with the principal regarding the matter. I was told because he was/is a juvenile they would not tell me his name. Nor would they tell me if he would be riding the bus again. I was told they would not release any of his "discipline" because he was/is a juvenile. I called the police to inquire if a report was made. They advised me that not only Could the school tell me whether or not this boy would be on the bus again, they had an obligation to tell me. They still refused. There is much more to this story, but I'll save it for later. My intention for writing is to inform others, in light of all the recent school shootings, that we have a BIG problem here in DC.

Our Reply

Unfortunately too many of these incidents have been happening recently. I don’t want to be quick to judge and say this is an epidemic but certainly in today’s society anytime someone threatens the life of another it should be taken seriously. I am also tired of being told that the school district can’t say things because of legal reasons when the truth is they won’t say things in fear of being sued. Just imagine the lawsuit if the individual mentioned above actually went through with their threat.

After receiving this parent’s note, the local media broadcasted out that Deer Creek Elementary School was forced to Lock Down because of an individual who entered the school and would not follow school guidelines. We applaud everyone involved who handled the situation without it escalating. A lot of credit must be given to the school for being prepared to handle this situation. But based on recent violent incidents, it doesn't seem that the school is adequately addressing other serious incidents.

Superintendent Wilkinson recently posted a letter on the school district’s website addressing safety concerns, www.deercreekschools.org. It is good to see that the school will be working on improving their safety policies and procedures.

Hopefully recent safety problems at Deer Creek will spur the school board to get serious and take a proactive approach in regards to student safety. We also hope they give serious consideration to staggering the start times of the schools so that Middle School and High School students are not on the buses at the same time. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize that having 11 year olds on the same buses as 18 years is a recipe for disaster.

Suddenly laptops in the third grade doesn’t seem that important. Making sure our kids our safe should be.

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