Quarterly Joint Safety Meeting
Local Partners Talk Threat Assessment Process
The Threat Assessment Process
The Threat Assessment Process includes:
- Providing a framework for gathering information about involved students, the circumstances, and the potential risk of the situation.
- Supporting the synthesizing of information in a timely manner to reach a grounded decision regarding the potentially harmful behavior.
- Facilitating a comprehensive plan to support the physical safety of all students while helping the student in crisis return to a safe and connected place in the school community.
- Providing follow-up regarding the implementation of safety monitoring and management plans.
- Developing and maintaining a sense of psychological safety among students, staff, and parents.
- Connecting with broader community resources and responses as necessary.
Communication Before, During, After
During any Threat Assessment Process, both the district and law enforcement may need to communicate with:
- Students
- School Staff
- Parents
- Targeted Student(s)
- Other Schools
- District Staff
- Larger Community
All communication regarding threat assessments is rooted in safety. If there is information that students, staff, families, and/or the larger community needs, then that information will be disseminated in a timely manner. When the larger community has been notified of a threat or threat assessment process, updates will be provided as they are available. If families have been notified that a threat assessment has been initiated, they will also receive follow-up communication when the process is complete and a conclusion has been found.
Families can expect to receive information via school ListServ. If a situation reaches emergency status, meaning there is a change to the school day, a threat is imminent, or an emergency protocol such as a lockout or lockdown is initiated, families will also receive text alerts or phone calls in addition to ListServ messages. Families are encouraged to download the SchoolMessenger app, available for Apple or Android devices, to receive emergency alerts.
Social Media and Communication
Safety Partners discussed the role that social media plays in threat assessment communication.
While the district will provide pertinent information in a timely manner, it's common for misinformation and rumors to circulate through social media in these incidents, which can be damaging to the police investigation or the process at large. Misinformation can also raise anxiety levels even further, creating unneeded community fear and concern. The district strives for timely communication in these moments so that families are informed and comfortable with student safety at school. Both the district and law enforcement are thankful for community members who use social media to share accurate information that has been disseminated from either agency.
Safety partners noted that no situation is created equal, using the morning's tabletop exercises to think through communication decisions in a variety of examples and scenarios.
About West Linn-Wilsonville
Email: kilstroa@wlwv.k12.or.us
Website: www.wlwv.k12.or.us
Location: 22210 Southwest Stafford Road, Tualatin, OR, USA
Phone: 503-673-7000
Facebook: facebook.com/wlwvschools
Twitter: @wlwvdistrict