For the Sake of Safety

Moore Schools Establish School Violence Prevention Program

The health and safety of students and staff are the top priorities of the Moore School District’s administration, so with that in mind, officials have launched a school violence prevention training program.

The initiative is a proactive effort to inform students how they can recognize potential threats and take proper steps to report them.

According to the district’s website, the training will help students identify warning signs of violent and unsafe behavior and to understand the importance of reporting threats. Students also learn how and who to contact for additional help.

The district’s seventh through 12th grade teachers, with assistance from administrators and counselors, presented the training in their classrooms in December. The training included a discussion and other resources, such as a video on the Moore Public Schools’ website and YouTube channel. The training will continue to be conducted at the start of each school year, said District Superintendent Robert Romines.

A key acronym highlighted in the training is CARE, which stands for community, awareness, responsiveness and engagement. The training video also includes “Evan,” a public service announcement created by the organi

zation, Sandy Hook Promise, which demonstrates how people can overlook the warning signs of violence.

“We’re trying to teach our students there are warning signs, whether you’re in schools, in church, at the mall, in a movie theater … this isn’t just a school thing,” Romines said. “The overarching goal here is to teach awareness for our students, and not only students but for any adults who watches it as well.”

The training is the result of collaboration between the district’s administration, mental health groups and local law enforcement agencies, including the Moore Police Department, the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office and the Oklahoma City Police Department.

The district wanted parents to understand the training program’s goals, so the video was first shared through social media and the student information system. So far, Romines said he has heard positive feedback from both parents and students, including his daughter, who is a freshman at Westmoore High School.

Moore’s administrative team is always looking for ways to improve safety in the district, said Dustin Horstkoetter, director of safety and security, who took his position five years ago after retiring from the Moore Police Department.

“Hopefully, we can make that impact with our kids and prevent something bad from happening in our district with our students understanding how big of a role they can play,” Horstkoetter said.

“The reality is if the kids feel safe at school, they’re going to perform better. We’re in the business of educating them, and if their mental health and their mental wellbeing is stable, and they feel safe inside the walls of the schools, they’re going to do better … We’re always looking for ways to better serve our students and our staff and keep them as safe as possible.” – 19SM