School security discussed at Othello community forum

OTHELLO — Prevention, parenting, community support, securing school buildings, arming teachers, parents knowing what their kids are doing were among the topics of discussion at a school security forum Monday night sponsored by the Othello School Board.

The forum was scheduled in the wake of a February school shooting in Parkland, Florida. Along with school board members, the panel included the Othello Police Department, Adams County Sheriff’s Office, Adams County Juvenile and mental health professionals.

Othello Police Chief Phil Schenk and Adams County Sheriff Dale Wagner detailed some of the measures taken by law enforcement to respond to an emergency situation at school. Othello has one school resource officer, and a teacher from McFarland Middle School said she thought the district should have two, one assigned to McFarland. Schenk said he’d like to have a second SRO, but that it’s a matter of paying for it.

The salary for the SRO is split between the school district and the police department. The district also has three security officers, paid by the district. They do not carry weapons.

An Othello High School teacher called that “a step in the right direction,” but that some of the other security measures suggested wouldn’t, in her opinion, solve the problem. The MMS teacher asked about metal detectors and fences, and Schenk said MMS has a metal detector.

As for fences, most shooting incidents nationwide have involved students enrolled at the school or in the district. Two OHS teachers said they wouldn’t be in favor of arming teachers, and four OHS sophomores said they thought arming teachers would make the school feel less safe.

Wagner said in his opinion the root of the problem lies elsewhere. ‘The real issues start in the home,” he said.

Seth Carlson is the SRO in Othello. “We need to be involved with our kids,” he said – but like many parents, sometimes he isn’t, and that’s wrong.

“We (parents) need to be snoopy,” Carlson said, a sentiment echoed by Adams County Undersheriff Adolfo Cornado. “Snoop,” Cornado said. “Snoop as much as you can.” Parents should not be afraid to make their children angry, if that’s what it takes, he said.

A dad speaking during the comment period agreed with that, saying law enforcement and schools couldn’t prevent incidents by themselves. He sees children not listening to parents, he said, and parents need to remember that ignoring incidents like that will cause trouble for their children – and possibly the community – in the future.

But, said Kaiden Quigley, if kids want to hide what’s going on from their parents, they will find a way and will lie if necessary. (Kaiden is the OHS student representative to the school board.) Parents will have to be willing to question their kids, she said.

A mom speaking during the comment period said not every kid has supportive parents. She encouraged people to engage with kids they see, even if – maybe especially if – those kids are acting up. Another speaker during the comment period said community members, and teachers in particular, sometimes end up taking parental roles for kids, and that’s a heavy burden to place on them.

An OHS teacher asked what she should do when she knows kids who seem to be struggling with mental health issues. She sends them to the counseling staff, she said, and assumes that the right connections are made – but counselors are busy too. She asked how she could follow up. A speaker during the comment period asked about warning signs.

Mental health services are available in Othello, said Amanda Zepeda, clinical director for Adams County Mental Health. And it’s part of her agency’s job, she said, to make sure people know about them. She is a native of Othello, she said, and didn’t know services were available in town until she started work there.

Parents and kids can access mental health services directly, Zepeda said, or through the school counselors. The agency can assess kids if they have made threats or when they’re having a crisis. The agency also has a 24-hour crisis line. “We are a resource for you.”

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at education@columbiabasinherald.com.