JACKSON STRESSES SCHOOL SAFETY

JACKSON -- Superintendent Dr. Howard Jones Tuesday night updated the Jackson Board of Education on efforts to increase school safety.

Jones made the report in response to recent rumors of a bomb threat in the district. The rumors were widespread and completely unfounded but resulted in some 700 absences throughout the district, he said.

"We've had to face the reality that no one is immune to tragedy, and we need to take this seriously," Jones told board members. "This was a situation where there were a lot of rumors flying around, and none of them were true. We checked out every rumor or theory we could, and we had no reason to fear a threat to our school."

Wanda Bogardus, whose grandchildren attend the school district, addressed the board with her concerns about student safety. She encouraged the district to adopt a zero-tolerance policy for students responsible for possible life-threatening situations and to increase overall security throughout the district. She also suggested stricter dress codes and more concern for at-risk students.

"We need to set up a program to help children be more empathetic to children who are different," said Bogardus. "I'd also like to see armed security guards at every school.

"I don't think this will make the kids hysterical," she said. "I think it will make them feel protected."

Jones updated board members on security measures being implemented in the district, including securing school entrances, monitoring visitors to buildings, and improving administrator and teacher observation in hallways. School officials also meet monthly with Cape Girardeau school administrators and law enforcement officials to share information and develop crisis management plans.

"The major impetus for work on those crisis management plans wasn't school bombs or shootings, it was earthquakes," he said. "We periodically have earthquake, tornado and fire drills, and I guess now we'll be adding bomb drills to this list."

Jones recommended the board investigate creating a toll-free telephone line for anonymous tips related to school safety. Several area schools have already implemented such a plan with some success, he said. The telephone system would cost about $4,000 per school year to operate.

"The greatest weapon we have against violence in our schools is approximately 4,400 pairs of eyes in our students and approximately 500 pairs of eyes in our employees," said Jones. "It's important for the students to know the difference between being a tattletale and being a responsible citizen."

In other business, the board approved annual state applications for the district's gifted education program and summer school program. Board members also authorized administrators to develop a detailed report related to a request from Lynwood Baptist Church to use North Elementary School for weekly services until a new church is built in Fruitland.