On December 1st, the Boulder Valley School District teamed up with the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence (CSPV) to host a presentation focused on reporting in school shooting scenarios. Held at Centaurus High School in Lafayette, the event aimed to engage parents in discussions about de-escalation techniques.
The collaboration between the University of Colorado Boulder, CSPV, and BVSD provided parents with valuable insights into safety measures and guidance on gun violence in schools. Dr. Sarah Goodrum, a research professor for CSPV, kickstarted the presentation with alarming statistics on firearm-related deaths in the United States.
According to Goodrum, gun violence rates have been on the rise, with approximately 1,000 additional firearm deaths per year from 2018 to 2021. She also revealed that the frequency of mass shootings had more than doubled during the same period. Goodrum referenced the ‘Safe School Initiative,’ a study conducted by the Department of Education and the U.S. Secret Service, which found that warning signs and concerning behaviors often precede such tragic events.
The presentation also highlighted key warning signs of potentially violent behavior, including escalating anger, a fascination with weapons, and threats of harm. Carissa Jaquish, the manager of safety, security, and emergency preparedness for BVSD, outlined an action plan to address crisis situations in schools.
Parents were encouraged to discuss strategies for reporting potentially violent classmates, with one parent sharing the use of an anonymous reporting service called Safe2Tell. Jaquish explained how Safe2Tell allows for anonymous reporting, alleviating fears of overreacting or appearing overly concerned to peers.
Dr. Goodrum emphasized the importance of awareness and recognition of warning signs, urging parents and students to educate themselves. She stressed that by identifying these indicators, intervention efforts could be enhanced to prevent violent actions. The presentation closed with a call to action for the Centaurus High School community to take an active role in prevention and intervention efforts.
