Sylvania City School District – Sylvania, OH
Bob Verhelst, the school district’s student services director, said the uptick in offenses resulting in expulsions is because students and teachers are more vigilant and feel safer to report harmful behavior they observe. “That is a direct correlation with our ALICE training,” he said. ALICE, which stands for Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate, is a national program set up to help teachers and school staff learn how to deal with someone with a weapon attacking a school. Sylvania Schools staff began such training in the 2011-12 school year. Students training began last school year, and all students should be trained by next year. “The ALICE training is making people (students and teachers) comfortable and safe and being aware if something dangerous is in the building,” he said. “Students, like seeing a knife, are aware that is a dangerous situation, and it is not a healthy situation for kids to be involved in.” Read more
