In the wake of the recent mass shooting that took place at Florida State University, a number of school districts in Southeast Michigan are concentrating their efforts on making certain that their students and staff are well-prepared and properly protected in the event of any emergency.
Classrooms that are similar to the ones that are found at Northville High School are often filled with students who are eager to learn and are bubbling with enthusiasm and excitement.
RJ Webber, the superintendent of Northville Public Schools, believes that the feeling of safety begins at the bottom and works toward the top.
“How do we provide avenues for them to learn, to listen or to share their own emotions so it doesn’t get to a boiling point where they make an impulsive decision that changes, obviously, their life, but the lives of families forever,” Webber stated.
According to Webber, his staff have spent the past few years attempting to determine what the community requires and where the possibility for violence can originate from among the community members.
“What we find is a really sad trend of kids who feel disconnected, who don’t feel part of something, who are struggling, and don’t know how to reach out for help,” Webber stated.
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According to Webber, Northville is looking at things from a holistic perspective.
“Every teacher, paraprofessional, bus driver, food service, we have trained in that and have two full days of capacity building,” Webber stated.
What School Could Be is an organization that provides students, professors, and staff with resources to support them as they address challenges that touch their campus.
Northville has worked with What School Could Be in addition to holding seminars.
According to Webber, the school district is confident that their efforts will assist start a chain reaction among school districts throughout the region.
