Safety Changes
Administrators address student concerns following threats
The halls were emptier than usual during lunch on February 23. Less than 50% of students were at school, according to attendance secretary Karen Staves.
Next week will see the implementation of new safety protocols at Big Sky, according to administrators who addressed student concerns in a forum held today.
Principal Natalie Jaeger, Assistant Principal Jennifer Courtney, and School Resource Officer Jeff Lloyd held forums in the school cafetorium during second and third periods in which students could ask questions and share their thoughts and feelings about the threats made against the school, and what’s planned, moving forward.
Starting on Monday, all non-staff members will be required to enter the building from the main entrance only.
There will be grade level assemblies where information on “run-lock-fight” drills will be given to the students. Teachers will be going over the drills in their classes as well.
An official run-lock-fight drill will be coming from the district soon, but Principal Natalie Jaeger says the school will move forward with the training regardless.
Some students were upset by the fact that the school has had no lockdown drills to prepare them. In response, Jaeger says, “One reason we haven’t done lockdown drills is that they aren’t best practice anymore. If you can run out that door, we want you to run out that door.”
Policies for student parking will also be changing. There will be no parking in the F lot of the building — students will have to park in the student lot and use the main entrance. Opening the 20’s doors to let others in will not be permitted.
A proposal for decals on student cars to better monitor suspicious activity accurately was made and is expected to will happen.
“There might be some things that feel really inconvenient in the future,” says Assistant Principal Jennifer Courtney.
More changes to make the entry way safer were explored and will be considered down the road.
The school wishes to make a few immediate changes before moving on to bigger projects.
Administration continues to encourage students and staff to report anything they find suspicious by contacting the attendance office or emailing administrators. They appreciate all efforts to keep the school a safe place.