Garrettsville – In response to recent school shootings across the nation, James A. Garfield School District is joining forces with both law enforcement and 12 community social service providers to strengthen student ties to family, school and the community. During a Community Safety Meeting at the high school designed as a public meeting but only sparsely attended on April 11, JAG Superintendent Ted Lysiak announced that several collaborative initiatives are in the works.
Perhaps the most striking development was Village Council’s anticipated vote later that evening to hire a School Resource Officer to patrol the JAG campus full time, starting next school year. Local police officers already have a presence at the high school, Lysiak said. This full-time presence will build upon the Resource Officer’s multi-layered role as student safety enforcer, educator, disciplinarian, mentor, counselor and court liaison.
school safety is on the forefront of everyone’s mind these days, considering the violence in schools. People who do these violent acts are very disconnected individuals, So we’re doing all we can to keep kids connected in the community. If not you or your child, you might know someone who may need one of our resources. Community connections provide the glue that keeps us all together.
Along with 14 additional school and emergency response personnel, Lysiak stressed that “school safety is on the forefront of everyone’s mind these days, considering the violence in schools. People who do these violent acts are very disconnected individuals, So we’re doing all we can to keep kids connected in the community. If not you or your child, you might know someone who may need one of our resources. Community connections provide the glue that keeps us all together.”
First, current school safety measures — at elementary, middle and high school levels — were recently reviewed and revised, following a four-hour walk-through of an active intruder scenario involving school administration and local emergency responders. As a result, these safety procedures are currently in place in event of a campus-wide emergency:
• Building Safety Measures include installation of new emergency door locks for every classroom in each building; installation of newer camera/video surveillance to eliminate blind spots; an exterior buzzer system at each door to keep outsiders out until approved entry is secured; installation of panic buttons for one-touch access to police department; walkie-talkies for every administrator with access to PA system for emergency messaging; every office equipped with one-button access to first responders via Mark’s Radio/Scanner; custodial building checks every morning, evening and weekend day.
• Scheduling of ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate), fire and tornado drills.
• Equipping Stop the Bleed Go Buckets, supplies and CPR/First Aid training — all provided by UH Portage — for every Portage County classroom.
• Installing video cameras, practicing evacuation drills and reviewing safety procedures on every school bus.
• Establishment of safe zones and reunification areas for each school.
Meanwhile, preventive measures are being provided to mitigate the need for emergency response, including:
• Jiggs the Therapy Dog, provided at no cost currently in the elementary school two days a week (thanks to owner Libby Frato-Sweeney and her family). According to Principal Keri Leindecker, the therapy dog is utilized in small groups and special events to provide students with reduced anxiety and anger issues, greater self-esteem, and a wonderful reading partner.
• The Leader in Me and Seven Habits of Healthy Kids student empowerment programs help elementary students with interpersonal and personal skills.
• DARE and I’m Too Good for Drugs programs helps to prevent addiction problems later in life.
• Town Hall II provides personal safety workshops for all elementary students.
Counselor Shelby Scirocco reported that several programs are available for students at the middle and high schools to support healthy social and emotional well-being, including the Cool to be Kind anti-bullying and Operation Keepsake programs, Red Flags for Mental Health (focusing on signs of depression), Children’s Advantage, and Portage County Schools-based counseling with access to the Coleman Professional Crisis Program.
- Several additional resources are available to JAG teens and their parents, including a public Family Conference on Addiction workshop at NEOMED Auditorium at 4209 SR 44 in Rootstown at 9am-12:30pm on Saturday, April 21. Counselor Scirocco has additional resources available to parents who have mental health concerns about their children.
“The social/emotional piece is the most important part of our plan,” Lysiak said. “Keeping our kids connected is the best preventive measure we can take. We must keep connections strong between kids and families, school and community supports.”
Admittedly, there is more work to be done regarding safety at JAG schools. The athletic directors are working on plans and procedures during sporting events, and, as always, the community is encouraged to speak up if someone is starting to act aggressively on social media, in person or otherwise. “If you see something, say something,” Lysiak urged. “Use the Safe School Helpline app to report something anonymously online by text or phone. Better to be safe than sorry.”
