School officials address safety protocols at Prairie Rose after incident – The Dickinson Press

DICKINSON – Following a recent safety issue at Prairie Rose Elementary, parents met with Dickinson Public School (DPS) officials on Sept. 13 to discuss the situation, clarify and dispel certain rumors, and address legitimate community concerns regarding reporting procedures at Dickinson Public Schools. The meeting at the school was intended to reassure families that the issue, which arose on Sept. 12, was handled with care and sensitivity and that student safety remains the highest priority.

Superintendent Marcus Lewton explained that the meeting was necessary due to numerous requests from families.

“Numerous families have reached out to our teachers and staff,” Lewton said. “We wanted to have an opportunity to visit with them and tell them all about the incident.”

In the incident, a fifth-grader made a threatening comment that was investigated by the school and deemed “transient.” That is, the comment was not meant literally, but still warranted a response. School protocol is to document the incident, identify witnesses, and involve the parents or guardians of those directly involved. In this case, the school determined that notifying all parents was not necessary.

Parents attending Friday morning's meeting expressed concern that they had not been informed of the threat, reflecting broader community concerns about school safety in light of school shootings across the country.

As of September 6, 2024, there have been at least 46 school shootings in the United States. This includes 13 incidents on college campuses and 33 on elementary and secondary school campuses. These incidents resulted in 24 deaths and at least 62 injuries. This data is based on reports from the Gun Violence Archive, Education Week, and Everytown for Gun Safety.

Lewton acknowledged these concerns and emphasized that the district is committed to seriously addressing any threat, regardless of its nature, and to involving the parents or guardians of those directly affected. He also stated that the school responded by sending parents a notice outlining the steps being taken, including the district's use of a threat assessment process.

He emphasized that the district takes every threat seriously, regardless of whether it is made verbally, in writing or digitally.

“Our team is trained to assess and evaluate all possible risks. We immediately remove the student in question until the investigation is complete,” he explained. “Once a threat is made, we drop everything and take action. Everyone is on board.”

Lewton added: “We make sure to involve parents and guardians and, depending on the level of the threat, we take appropriate steps ranging from counseling to permanent removal.”

The district says it is also working with Dickinson police to train staff on how to deal with potential threats, including students and intruders.

Lewton was aware of the challenges of addressing community concerns and avoiding unnecessary alarms. He was also aware of the challenges of responding to threats in today's climate of heightened security. He noted that while students have always made inappropriate comments, the current societal environment amplifies their impact. “We take every threat seriously,” he explained.

“We understand that parents are concerned. As a father, I share that concern,” Lewton continued. “We live in a world where threats are taken more seriously than ever before, and our first responsibility is to keep our students and staff safe and secure.”

The district has implemented a number of comprehensive safety measures, including detailed building-level safety plans, regular drills, and safety improvements funded by federal grants.

Photo courtesy of Dickinson Public Schools

In addition, the district expanded its support services by hiring more psychologists to address students' emotional well-being.

The school principal urged parents to teach their children the importance of being careful with language, as even casual remarks can be misunderstood.

“Some of the words children use today can be frightening or hurtful, even in jest,” Lewton said. “It's important to talk about this at mealtimes so we can be mindful of what we say and how it may be perceived.”

Lewton acknowledged the valuable feedback from parents and emphasized that their commitment is critical to maintaining a safe community. He noted that families play a critical role in ensuring overall safety and well-being in the school environment.

“We met with families today. They gave us good feedback,” Lewton said. “So I think it's important that we recognize that our families are an important part of trying to protect our community.”

Parents who continue to have concerns are encouraged to contact school counselors or social workers to ensure their children receive the additional support they may need.