When the issue of school violence captures the nation’s attention, such as those in high schools in Paducah, Kentucky, in 1997; Jonesboro, Arkansas, in March 1998; Littleton, Colorado, in April 1999, and locally in Mt. Morris Township, at the Buell Elementary School in March 2000, the search for answers to prevent tragedies continue.

As the last few years have demonstrated, school violence has permeated every geographic region in our county and has occurred at every educational level. Statistically, school is still one of the safest places our children can spend their time. However, by most estimates, 60% of all school-aged children polled, feel a Columbine type incident could happen at their school.

There are efforts underway across this nation attempting to address many of the social determinants experts feel play a part in school violence. Many programs such as anger management, peer mediation, and anti-bullying have had a short-term impact. Many experts feel efforts to reduce the level of violence that children are exposed to will reduce the level of violence in the long run.

All Michigan public schools are required by law to have in place a School Safety Information Policy. One of the key components of any safety policy is a Safety Response Guide. This is a document that would assist staff and students, should a critical incident occur in their school.

Common Characteristics Present in Nine School Shooting Incidents in the Past Two Years

• Incidents occurred in suburban or rural communities
• Fellow students recognized dangerous warning signs and feared them
• Fellow students conveyed their fears and concerns to school officials and parents
• Weapons came from home and/or neighbors
• The perpetrators .....
  1. ....were white males
  2. ....complained they were picked on or taunted by fellow students
  3. ....did not do well in sports
  4. ....expressed a hatred of other races
  5. ....subscribed to white supremacist or Nazi philosophies
  6. ....had a fascination with violent video or computer games
  7. ....were fans of music with violent or satanic themes
  8. ....demonstrated a fascination with guns
  9. ....were avid gun magazine readers
  10. ....obtained information on how to manufacture bombs from the Internet (see Internet Safety page on this website)

Significant dates for those who hate:

• April 20 - Adolph Hitler’s birthday
• April 30 - Adolph Hitler committed suicide
• May 7 - WWII Victory in Europe Day (VE Day)
• April 21 & 16 - Columbine/Oklahoma bombing/Waco Branch Dividian incident

Statewide School Violence Hotline The Michigan Department of State Police and the Michigan Department of Education have established a statewide school violence hotline for the reporting of specific threats of imminent school violence or other suspicious or criminal conduct. This hotline was mandated by the Michigan Legislature in Public Act 269 of 2000.

This toll-free school violence hotline telephone number 1-800-815-TIPS is operational 24-hours per day, 365 days a year. The caller may remain anonymous and information will be forwarded directly to the appropriate Emergency Dispatch Center for action by the law enforcement agency where the affected school is located.

This hotline is not intended to replace the 911 emergency number or any other existing community operated tip lines. The establishment of this toll-free number is another option to report threats of violence on school property and another tool to make our schools safer so students can learn and teachers can teach.

Bomb Threats at Schools

The following actions are suggested to help school administrators and teachers prepare to deal with bomb threats and explosives.

Intervention Steps to Combat Repeated Bomb Threats:

• Look at the threat in general to determine how you will respond. Determine the level of emergency.
• Document threat (who, what, where, why, and when).
• Notify police and superintendent.
• Hold a school board meeting with parents to discuss possible solutions for dealing with bomb threats.
• Install caller I.D. or a "trapped trace" on all telephones within the building that accept incoming calls.
• Disable all pay telephones within school buildings. Prohibit possession of cell phones by students on campus. Students can make supervised telephone calls from the office.
• Provide a monetary reward for any information leading to the arrest of a bomb threat suspect.
• Inform students and parents through a district school letter that the length of the school year will be increased for every day of instruction lost due to a bomb threat.
• In the event of a bomb threat, have a district security plan that facilitates moving students to a football field, school buses, or another school building.
• Install a surveillance camera system. Use "dummy cameras" as well as cameras with a time delay.
• Publicize a message clearly stating threats will not be tolerated within the school system. School administrators must take the lead informing the public, parents, and students of a zero tolerance policy concerning threats of violence.
• Prosecution of school violence incidents must be swift and certain.

"School Safety Response Guide" sent to all school districts in Michigan

Michigan Safe Schools

Security Technologies in U.S. Schools (Adobe PDF file)

National Alliance for Safe Schools

U.S. Department of Education

Learning Exchange - School Violence Resources