But that doesn't mean school officials don't need to take precautions. They are doing what they can to stop violence before it starts. Sometimes that means setting policies and implementing programs that students don't like. But those things are done for the students' own protection, officials said. The Hastings Police Department said few problems involving weapons occur in the city's schools.
Districts have state-mandated policies that ban weapons.
Many schools, including the three in Hastings, ask county deputies to attend sporting events where fights sometimes can occur. For about 15 years, Adams Central has had a security guard patrol the school's parking lot before and after school, said Principal Jim Karloff. It certainly isn't because of gang activity. Hastings Public and Hastings Catholic schools have programs which educate students and teachers about violence prevention. HPS offers staff development training to teach safety issues.