GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) – The Green Bay Area Public School District is making changes after a loaded gun was found in a student’s backpack at Preble High School.
Now, the district is implementing a new safety protocol to help with student behavior.
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Starting Monday, September 22, when students fight or take part in other aggressive behavior, they’ll be suspended for multiple days.
And when returning, students will be closely monitored by staff, a change from the previous rule.
“Your privileges of going to basketball, football, volleyball games, going to dances, walking through the hallways with supervision, [it’ll be] with an adult right by your side,” Superintendent Vicki Bayer said. “Those are opportunities now that have to be earned if you are going to engage in unsafe behavior.”
The school district says the policy is not only about discipline, it’s about connecting with the student.
“We need to build relationships with these kids,” Bayer said. “There is something in their life that is causing this behavior, and we need to do what we can to help them feel connected to our school.”
Family members say these steps should help keep students safe at school.
“I feel they’re doing a good job trying to protect the kids,” Lorenzo Diaz, whose sibling attends Green Bay East High School, said.
Parents, students and staff also raised the idea of metal detectors at Monday’s parent roundtable.
“There was a lot of response on Monday at the preamble meeting for metal detectors, so that will be added to the list of options that we will bring to the board on October 13,” Bayer said.
Bayer said that potential costs do not matter when it comes to safety in the classroom.
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“We are presenting our budget to our board in October. I have heard President Lyerly say clearly that when it comes to student and staff safety, cost is no object.”
When asked if the school district could afford potential metal detectors in school, Bayer said, “Yeah, that’s a lot, but how much is a funeral?”
