As a part of National Youth Violence Prevention Week April 24-28, 2023, Navigate360 recognized 9 school districts for their commitment to setting a higher standard for safer schools within their communities. These recognitions acknowledge the districts’ leadership, commitment to elevated standards and continued dedication to creating safe spaces where children can experience each school day without fear.
Since the day a school shooting occurred in his district in May 2021, Chad Martin, Superintendent of Jefferson School District 251, has been on a mission to share the experience, including the steps his district took following the incident so that other schools can better prepare for an active shooter event.
“May 6th, 2021, changed Jefferson School District and the community of Rigby. When a 6th-grade student shot and injured a staff member and two students, it shocked our quiet community. It opened our eyes to the fact that nowhere is immune to the issues we face in this time. This type of evil can tear a community apart or draw them together. We are fortunate that our community rallied with the school district. Violence in our schools is not acceptable, not at all, not ever! As a community and district, we have taken great measures to build upon the safety protocols we previously had in place.
The May 6 incident opened our eyes to many things, and we have recognized areas in the district that we have done well regarding student safety as well as places for improvement. With all the programs and strategies we have implemented and/or improved, perhaps the most important step we have taken is strengthening our relationships with our local and even national partners.
We have all heard the adage “it takes a village to raise a child.” We have found it is also true that it takes a community to keep our children safe. We are fortunate to have an amazing community full of caring and knowledgeable individuals.
It is an honor for our district, community, and most importantly our teachers and staff to be recognized for their commitment to providing a safe environment for our students. Our staff has been willing to have uncomfortable conversations and stretch themselves with changes to policy and procedures to help our community heal and strengthen safety protocols.
— Chad Martin, Superintendent, Jefferson School District 251.
The original article was published on April 27, 2023, by Local News 8 (Idaho Falls, ID). Read it here.
Jefferson School District 251 receives school safety award
JEFFERSON COUNTY, Idaho (KIFI) – The Jefferson County School District recently won recognition for Excellence in School Safety and Student Wellness.
It was one of nine districts in the nation to receive this award from Navigate360 for National Youth Violence Prevention Week.
This award comes as a symbol of progress and strengthened protocols, especially after the 2021 Rigby Middle School shooting.
District Superintendent Chad Martin acknowledged teachers and staff were willing to have uncomfortable conversations and stretch themselves with changes to policy and procedures to help the community heal.
See how improvements to school safety training, policy and procedures garnered this recognition:
_______
See more photos from Jefferson School District 251’s Excellence in School Safety & Student Wellness Recognition.
