The 37-minute videotape was produced last summer by a coalition that included the Indiana Department of Education, the Indiana State Police, the Indianapolis Police Department, and the Marion County Sheriff's Department. It was distributed to 12 Indianapolis-area schools under a federal grant. Strategies aimed at reducing the risk of violence in schools were offered by security professionals across Indiana. The workshop panel has been widely recognized for its efforts to alert school personnel to the need for systems whereby they can spot early warning signals and create safeguards that might avert volatile reactions. A learned behavior, violence can be preventible if prevention strategies are taught early.
Students are never too young to be taught anger management and conflict resolution.
Also, we need to increase parental involvement, educating students, teachers, and parent volunteers about safe school procedures. Educators can be alert to signs of unrest. These are often situations that escalate to aggressive behavior. Hibbert presented the safe schools program to the Indiana State Board of Education earlier this year. The board announced its intention to adopt a new rule dealing with safe schools and emergency preparedness.