School security discussed at Othello School Board meeting

OTHELLO — School security and how to make Othello schools more secure was a topic of discussion at the Othello School Board meeting Monday.

Board chair Rob Simmons presented a draft policy to board members that could include an option for armed school personnel. Simmons emphasized it’s a draft policy and in that case subject to change.

The board hosted a forum March 12 to discuss school security in the wake of a school shooting in Florida in February. “A lot of stuff going on right now,” Simmons said. Board members and district officials haven’t yet decided how to proceed in the wake of the rejection of a construction bond proposal in February, and Monday’s board meeting also included the first look at a proposal to transition the elementary schools to kindergarten through eighth grade. But school security and the forum was worth further consideration, Simmons said.

“The discussion has just started, I believe,” said board member Mike Garza.

The draft policy included a provision to provide training to teachers and staff to identify students that could be a danger to themselves or others. Board member Jenn Stevenson said students should have the training as well. “Students see things in a different way,” Stevenson said. Students also should be included in any self-defense training, she said.

Isabel Pruneda, the student representative from Desert Oasis High School, suggested a class or some kind of training for students in the signs of mental illness. “Teaching students how to see the signs, and how to help people deal with that kind of issues, I think that would be pretty beneficial.”

Simmons said the policy doesn’t mandate anything, but it is important to look at all options. “Prevention is key, but I just do believe that – God forbid – an incident happens, I want us to be prepared to fight against that. I think expecting staff to not have a way to defend themselves concerns me. I wouldn’t want to be a staff member without a way to defend myself.” Simmons said there are a lot of opinions out there, a lot of options, and district patrons need to look at what they can do and want to do.

Board member Mike Garza said he talked with his daughter, an OHS senior, after the forum. Three OHS students who attended the forum spoke against arming school personnel, saying it would make them feel less safe. Garza said his daughter’s “opinion varied from the young ladies who spoke at the forum.

“If students feel this divided, it’s no wonder parents feel this divided,” Garza said. There was a comment about armed security guards at the forum, and Garza said “that planted a seed in my mind. There’s things that we can do.”

Isabel said the forum really needed more student involvement, and Stevenson said it might be beneficial to host a forum, or an assembly, on school security just for OHS students.

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