Thursday, March 28, 2024

Concerned parents address Pateros school student security

Proactive measures proposed

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PATEROS – More than half a dozen citizens spoke during the first meeting of the Pateros School District Board of Directors last Thursday, Dec. 16, held since a firearms threat directed at the school earlier this month put all concerned on a high alert for the future security of students.
The threat was reported from a social media exchange that mentioned a firearm and threat of violence at the school. The subsequent investigation by school staff and law enforcement left many parents confused as to what transpired and who was involved.
Board chairman Chad Miller introduced those on the roster who signed up to deliver prepared remarks and invited others both in the audience and online to share their thoughts.
Rogan Mitchell who has three children in the Pateros schools delivered a prepared statement including several proposals she recommended to better safeguard students. In her opening remarks Mitchell recited some unsettling statistics compiled from the FBI Uniform Crimes Report showing the steady rise in violent crimes - homicides, rape, robbery, aggravated assault - in Washington State elementary and secondary schools in the past decade:
2010 - 4
2011 - 17
2012 - 38
2013 – 43
2014 - 59
2015 -102
2016- 105
2017 - 171
2018 - 145
2019 – 206
Mitchell pointed out that while the state mandates annual fire, earthquake, and modified lockdown drills, greater emphasis should be directed at the latter crisis.
“Given the fact about injuries and deaths in schools I believe there needs to be an overwhelming interest in drills that prepare for violence versus drills that prepare for fires or earthquakes,” said Mitchell. “When there is a lockdown drill it should be utilized to gain the most training value for both students and staff.”
1. All students and staff should be on the same page sharing information.
Students should be aware there is a zero-tolerance policy for drugs or violence and should be emboldened to come forward with information they might acquire regarding violation of that policy, said Mitchell, a “see-something, say-something” curriculum reinforced through classes and assemblies as a proactive preventive strategy.
“We as parents know that there is a lot more information shared among peers than what is brought forward to parents or staff,” said Mitchell.  I think we can all agree that safety  
2. A comprehensive plan should be established with specific learning goals gained from safety drills.
This plan would include a after-drill debrief to review what was learned and how better to improve the next one.
3. Concealed carry staffing.
After all else fails “the best way to stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun that has more training,” said Mitchell. She added that the estimated five-minute response time for the nearest law enforcement from Brewster.
“Five minutes can be devastating for an active shooter,” said Mitchell. “Having some well-trained volunteer concealed-carry staff members would knock down the response time to a fraction of current five-minute response time.”
State RCW requires law enforcement level training and renewed annual certification. Mitchell equated concealed-carry staff with the common-sense fire suppression measures like sprinklers and fire extinguishers found in every school.
4. Locked front entry doors with a buzz-in system.
“Currently anyone can enter any time through the main front door,” said Mitchell. “An unwelcome guest could be anywhere in the building.”
Secure door entry has been added to both the Brewster and Bridgeport school buildings.
Mitchell also read a letter from Erica Scroggie supporting Mitchell’s concealed-carry and drill debriefing suggestions.
Jackie Slater, who has three boys attending Pateros school, recommended mindfulness over some of the more intimidating measures to prevent violence. Slater said some of the elements of mindfulness help manage stress and anxiety, strengthen cognitive health and attention, model compassion and kindness, foster empathy and connection, among other benefits.
“I don’t believe armed guards or metal detectors is going to contribute to a positive environment,” said Slater. “It’s just going to add fear and I think that is the wrong way to go.”
Brianna Brenner whose family is new to Pateros from Winthrop said she is “blown away” by the lack of communication in the district and finds the website hard to navigate and in need of an upgrade. She contrasted Pateros with the Methow Valley School District that she described as more proactive with its security and daily parent notifications.
“Safety seemed to be a much bigger priority there,” Brenner said.
Adding to Mitchell’s recommendations Brenner suggested adding a school resource officer as an option to armed staff.
Janet Ward, another mother of a Pateros student said she is not a Facebook fan and finds the district’s communication platform “really rough” and confusing. She said she supports the idea of door security and believes the privacy of minors should be protected.
Several speakers found navigating the district’s websites difficult to navigate and in need of attention. One person said Facebook is a social platform and should not represent our school. Another rural Methow resident brought up the lack of Wi-Fi access as another communications barrier.
The speakers left the board with much to ponder, and Miller explained the board will take all the testimony under advisement.
“A lot of these things that you brought up are things that we will not make a decision on right now,” said Miller. “It’ll probably be January or February meeting.”
The board engaged in a lengthy discussion over FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) and the balance between protecting the privacy of students involved in a shooting threat and the public/parent demands for more information. Members were debating requested support for a change in FERPA restrictions.
Following the shooting threat on Dec. 1, school superintendent Greg Goodnight posted letters on the school’s website (pateros.org) he sent to senators Patty Murray, Maria Cantwell, and Congressman Dan Newhouse calling for changes to current FERPA restrictions. The board voted to table consideration of its support to a later meeting.






 

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