While the policies were already in place, the North Judson-San Pierre School District has decided to compile them into one place.
During last night’s School Board meeting, a process for determining the severity of a threat made by students, and the potential causes of that threat were discussed.
North Judson-San Pierre Superintendent Lynn Johnson says that included in the screening process is determining whether the student making the threat and other students are safe, and identifying the target of the threats.
“If you would have a student who would pose a threat, this is an opportunity for the principals, or actually what we call the crisis team, to go through this and assess where we are with the student,” says Johnson.
A crisis team includes administration, a counselor, and a psychologist to help determine whether any threats made are credible. Various team members are trained in crisis management.
Johnson says threats that are considered an immediate danger are to be handled by police.
“It’s basically getting a picture so you can say: okay, this is what we found, and this is the action we have taken,” says Johnson.
Investigation of incidents can take between 24 and 48 hours. Board members said it was preferable to have the threat assessments in writing.
