Oxford Community Schools announced that middle and high school students will be required to carry clear backpacks upon returning to campus after a shooting rampage on November 30 that killed four students and injured several others.
Superintendent Tim Throne of Oxford Community Schools shared the news in a statement made last week. In addition to clear backpacks for middle and high school students, elementary students will be required to keep their backpacks in their lockers or cubbies rather than carrying them throughout the school day.
The policy began on Monday for returning elementary and middle school students. Oxford High School has yet to announce its return to in-person learning.
The clear backpacks have been donated to the school system to provide for students.
“Thanks to the generosity of so many in our community, we now have enough clear backpacks so all high school, middle school, and Bridges students will be provided one upon their return,” according to the statement.
The school district is also adding several additional safety protections following November’s shooting.
Every district building will have law enforcement on site. We encourage you to talk with your child about this so they are aware and prepared to see uniformed officers at their school. Let them know they are there to protect them and help keep them safe.
A personal security firm hired by the district will have personnel on-site at every school building district-wide.
The district uses GoGuardiansoftware that filters incoming web content to any of our district accounts. This software helps protect the online safety of our students, families and staff.
Gagglesoftware has been activated to help manage student online safety on school-provided accounts. This software manages all outgoing content from students and staff, and flags any concerning images, links to websites and shared items from Google Drive for our technology safety and security team. The software allows the district to work with law enforcement to help ensure any potential online issues, threats or emergencies are immediately addressed.
Professionally trained trauma specialists will continue to be available at every building for students and staff.
Our staff has undergone trauma-response training to be as prepared as possible to help our students. They are using the best practices and data from trauma specialists and crisis response experts who have helped in our planning and training. We recognize that students will have varying knowledge and understanding about what occurred. We have trained professionals working closely with us to help us navigate this as well as safe places for students who need to talk more. As we did before the break, if students raise concerning questions, they will be connected with a professional specialist. If this occurs, the child’s family will be contacted.
Every school will have a team of trained therapy dogs in their buildings, and this will continue through the remainder of the school year.
We will also have additional staff in every building. Oakland Schools staff will be available to help teachers in classrooms as needed and a district administrator will also be present at each building on Monday morning.
On Monday, January 3, there will be professional trauma specialists available for parents and families at the Legacy Center from 7 am to 12 pm.
The new safety changes hope to provide an increased level of security after the alleged shooter in the Oxford High School massacre likely carried a handgun in his backpack while talking with school officials on the day of the incident.
Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald told CNN that there was a “very strong possibility” the suspected student was already carrying the weapon during a meeting with his parents and school officials earlier in the day before the shooting.
“I think that it’s already been public that he did have the weapon. During COVID, they don’t use lockers, so they just have backpacks,” McDonald said.
“And unfortunately, he was allowed to get back to class. And we now know he had a weapon with him at that time. And that is simply tragic,” she added.
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Source: Dailywire
