Safety and Security Newsletter
West Perry School District - April 2023
Recent district and nationwide events have increased everyone's concerns about school safety and security. West Perry School District is committed to providing students and staff with a safe learning and working environment. Our administrators, teachers, and support staff perform many tasks each day that contribute to the safety of everyone in our schools. However, we have not prioritized communicating with students and their families, staff, and the community about our school safety and security work. Understandably, with the lack of information, stakeholders may believe that school safety and security is not a priority for the district. One of the reasons for the lack of communication is to ensure safety. If plans, procedures, and preventative measures are made public, they could be less effective. That being said, there is a great deal of information we can share to highlight the work we are doing to keep everyone safe. This newsletter aims to start providing this information and will cover different topics in each issue. This issue will focus on Threat Assessment and Management.
Survey
Threat Assessment and Management
One of the areas the district has worked to improve this school year is our Threat Assessment and Management procedures. The district Crisis Committee, led by Mrs. Jones, Coordinator of Student Services, and Dr. Clouse, Communications and Compliance Administrator, revamped the district’s procedures to follow the latest recommendations from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency.
What is Threat Assessment and Management?
Threat assessment is a fact-based process for the assessment of and intervention with students whose behaviors may indicate a threat to the safety of the student, other students, school employees, school facilities, the community, or others. Threat assessment is a prevention strategy. School communities work together to identify students exhibiting at-risk behaviors so that they can receive assistance before they perform acts of violence.
Who is on the District Threat Assessment Team?
The people on the threat assessment team are appointed by the superintendent in consultation with the school safety and security coordinator. There are some positions that are required in statute to be on the team, and there are others that may be assigned based on the needs of the school. In addition, when a student is referred to the threat assessment team, the team consults with or engages the participation of individuals in the school building who knows the student well, whether that be a teacher, aide, custodian, secretary, food service worker, coach, or other school staff person. Current members of the team include district and building administrators, school counselors, school nurses, and school psychologists.
What are At-Risk Behaviors?
There are observable behaviors that may not be normal and are out-of-character for most students. These behaviors may lead to acts of violence. If the behaviors are noticed early on, then appropriate measures can be taken to assist the student before any violence occurs. Some observable, at-risk behaviors include:
- Unusual social distancing or isolation of individuals from peers and family members
- Sullen or depressed behavior from an otherwise friendly and positive person
- Out-of-context outbursts of verbal or physical aggression, increased levels of agitation, frustration, and anger
- Confrontational, accusatory, or blaming behavior
- An unusual interest in weapons
- Direct or indirect threats of violence.
- Fixation on violence as means of addressing a grievance
How do I report a concern?
If you have a concern about the behavior of an individual, you can report it:
1. To the building principal -
- Blain Elementary School – Tonya Kepner, tkepner@westperry.org, 717-536-3219
- Carroll Elementary School – DJ Emanuelson, demanuelson@westperry.org, 717-582-4256
- New Bloomfield Elementary School – Kristi Coble, kcoble@westperry.org, 717-582-4318
- West Perry Middle School – Renee LeDonne, rledonne@westperry.org, 717-789-3012 or Jenna Krinjeck, jkrinjeck@westperry.org
- West Perry High School – Cory Hoffman, choffman@westperry.org, 717-789-3931
2. To the Safety and Security Coordinator – Lucas Clouse, lclouse@westperry.org, 717-789-3934
3. Through the Safe 2 Say Something program. A tip is submitted via mobile app, website, or by calling the PA based 24/7 Crisis Center at 1-844-SAF2SAY (1-844-723-2729)
What Will the Team Do, Once a Report Is Made?
Once the team receives a report of a potential threat, it is their job to assess and intervene with the student and determine the level of threat. If the student's behavior indicates a threat to the safety of the student, other students, school employees, school facilities, the community, or others, the team will work with the district and building administration to:
- Institute appropriate procedures to ensure safety.
- Notify the student's parent or guardian.
- Notify any identified targets and their parent or guardian.
- Refer the student to the appropriate agency or team, including but not limited to Local Law enforcement, Children and Youth, Suicide Prevention Team, IEP team, 504 team, and the Student Assistance Team.
- Determine and implement appropriate interventions.
- Monitor the effectiveness of interventions.
For More Information:
Email: lclouse@westperry.org
Website: https://www.westperry.org/district/school_safety_and_security
Location: 2606 Shermans Valley Road, Elliottsburg, PA, USA
Phone: 717-789-3934