Policies and procedures to impact the safety of students and teachers have been put in place for the start of the new school year at School of the Osage. This begs the question: Do students really know what policies have been put in place or have we not implemented them well enough? Zoe Steward, a senior at School of the Osage, said, “Sure, I feel like it [a policy for action in the event of a violent intruder] has been good. We have these things put in place as a preventative measure. That being said, I think in the moment of an actual situation, a lot of that can go out the window.”

When asked what more the school can do to make students feel safer, Steward said, “ I don’t think there is much more the school can do. It’s a bigger issue than the school administration. Maybe being more communicative with students when there’s a threat or something, so we’re not focused on rumors.” 

To avoid the rumors, perhaps the administration could make this explicitly clear for all students. It has been suggested that each hour at the beginning of the school year would focus on new policies in the handbook. To that end, teachers have their own thoughts about policies that have changed. The new policies and measurements that have been put in place by the School of the Osage have been reviewed by teachers and staff. On the topic of improving school safety, Mr. Karch said, “I think just a clear cut procedure of what needs to happen in these scenarios I feel like…might be beneficial, such as a counterpart part of the situations.” 

We also asked Ella Kucsik, a senior, if she felt safer with everything that has been put in place for threat of violent intruders. To counter everyone saying that they think it has improved, she had something very different to say: “I don’t feel that there has been much put in place, and if there has been, we have not been made aware of it.” 

Kucsik has a very good point. Journalism students interviewed five classes, asking if students knew what the school handbook says about violent intruder alerts and procedures, and only 10 out of 103 raised their hands, confirming they are aware. 

When Kucsik was asked what more the school can do to keep this school year safer, she said, “I think they could educate us on ways to stay safe and what to do in certain situations. I feel like they are scared to talk about it and it’s a real issue. People are dying and they [school administration and teachers] need to talk about it.” 

Though there are many policies and procedures put in place, do we really remember what they are if we are asked on the spot? Would you be able to know what to do if a dangerous situation arises?