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January 24, 2019 | Vol. 93, No. 15
2018 Alexis Schindler Staff writer aschindler1@murraystate.edu
A commemorative ceremony was held at Mike Miller Park in Draffenville, Kentucky, on Jan. 23, in remembrance of the Marshall County High School shooting that took place one year ago. The event, given the official name “A Night of Healing & Remembrance,” was coordinated by Marshall County’s Facilitators of Community Unity and Support organization. The ceremony began at 6 p.m. in one of Miller Park’s lower parking lots.
As attendees of the ceremony were arriving, they were provided orange glow sticks. Orange is one of Marshall’s school colors, and blue and orange have been colors of support for the community throughout the past year. “This is another way for the people of Marshall County to come together, support one another and stand side by side when bad things happen,” Irene Edwards, Marshall County resident from Fairdealing, Kentucky, said. “It was such a tragedy, and I feel for the family of the boy who did this. It changed their lives and all of our lives forever.”
2019
The ceremony opened with a word of prayer. Next, Tim Bertram of Tim Bertram’s Art/God’s Graffiti Ministry came to the stage to say a few words before he created a piece of artwork before the audience’s eyes. “I can’t stand here in front of you and say I understand or I know what some of you are going through, because I don’t,” Bertram said. “I was indirectly affected by this because I have friends, youth pastors and fellow ministers that have been impacted by this. I can tell you this with assurance, there is a hope in Christ that will get us through. There is a hope that only
comes from Jesus.” Bertram read Romans 8:18-25 from the Bible, as it is a passage of hope and joining together. He followed this with the recreation of a piece of his own artwork which he titled “Smile.” Bertram said his inspiration for the piece came to him after he was diagnosed with leukemia several years ago and came across the scripture Zephaniah 3:17. “The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; He will save, He will rejoice over thee with joy; He will rest in his love, He will joy over thee with singing,” the verse reads.
After the exhibition of Bertram’s art, Cody Myers, a local musician, performed a song he and Reidland Church of Christ’s Brian Brophy wrote. The piece was inspired by the shooting, and it is titled “Together We’re Strong.” “There is strength in unity,” Myers said. “As you listen to the words tonight, I challenge you to think both of how we can remain strong together as a community and a body of believers, but also as individuals and within us strong together with Christ.” To end the ceremony, two Chinese lanterns were released.
One lantern was blue and the other orange; another representation of Marshall County High School’s colors. After the ceremony, attendees were encouraged to gather at one of the pavilions for hot coffee, tea, hot chocolate and baked goods, which were provided by local Marshall County churches. Attendees also had the opportunity to speak with a counselor or pastor throughout the evening, if they wished. Pictures from “A night of healing and remembrance” can be found on page 7.
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NEWS NEWS THE MUR R AY STATE
January 24, 2019
Families file lawsuits on heels of one-year mark Ashley Traylor Editor-in-Chief
atraylor@murraystate.edu
Gage Johnson Senior writer gjohnson17@murraystate.edu
One day before the one-year mark of the Marshall County High School shooting, four victims’ families took legal action against the school district. The families claimed the administration failed to recognize Gabriel Parker as a threat and neglected to take proper security measures. The families of Bailey Holt, Gage Smock, Mary Bella James and Dalton Keeling filed a 16-page lawsuit on Tuesday, Jan. 22, in Marshall County Circuit Court targeting five school board members, Superintendent Trent Lovett, Principal Amy Waggoner, four assistant principals, a counselor, and Director of Security
and School Resource Officer Ray Chumbler. Justin Minyard, Parker’s stepfather, and Mary Garrison Minyard, his mother, were also named in the lawsuit. The lawsuit states the defendants “knew or should have known of Gabriel Parker’s dangerous propensities and failed to take any action to monitor, report, intervene or prevent the actions of Defendant Parker, and further failed to comply with statutes and regulations related to school safety, which said actions and inactions resulted in the shooting of January 23, 2018.” Bailey Holt and Preston Cope died in the shooting and 18 others were injured, including Smock, James and Keeling. According to the lawsuit, Marshall County’s school officials had a duty to protect and care for the students of Marshall County High School, but they failed to do so when
Parker entered the school and began shooting. “There were no impediments to entering the common area nor security measures in place to prevent entering the area with a loaded weapon. No security personnel nor systems were present, allowing Defendant Parker to enter the commons area unfettered,” according to the lawsuit. It also claims that the Marshall County Board of Education neglected to have an emergency plan in place as well as effectively train employees in execution of a plan. They also failed to identify warning signs of school violence. As a result of the school’s negligence, the shooting, the deaths of Holt and Cope, and the injuries of Smock, James, Keeling and others took place, according to the suit. It claims Parker’s parents were negligent in maintaining and securing the firearm he
Bryan Edwards/The News
Several members of the board of education are among those listed in the lawsuit. used to execute the shooting. Parker found the Ruger .22 pistol in his stepfather’s closet where he was able to transfer it to his bookbag without his parents’ knowledge. Justin and Mary negligently placed the firearm in an “unsecured location” and “entrusted him with the firearm,” resulting in the shooting and the harm of the victims and their families, according to the law-
suit. The complaint states Parker’s parents “knew or should have know of Defendant Parker’s dangerous propensities, yet negligently allowed a loaded weapon to be kept unsecured in a location which Parker was aware, and such negligence was gross and reckless.” Cope’s family filed a separate lawsuit against Parker, Justin and Mary on Jan. 23.
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January 24, 2019
Page 3
Community is stronger one year later spoke about how the staff commemorated the incident by respecting the students’ privacy without exploiting the situation. “We have placed an ad in the newspaper letting the students know we support them,” Cavanah said. “Many will be wearing ‘Marshall Strong’ shirts to show support.” In September, the Marshall County Public Library conducted the Community Table Project to assess the community’s needs after the incident of Jan. 23. Part of that assessment included information on how the commnity,
Ciara Benham Staff writer cbenham@murraystate.edu
Jan. 23 marked one year since a deadly shooting at Marshall County High School in Benton, Kentucky, left two students, Bailey Nicole Holt and Preston Ryan Cope, dead and 18 others injured. One year later, MCHS and others in the community banded together to remember the incident on what is referred to as the “one-year mark.” Superintendent of Marshall County Schools, Trent Lovett, explained how MCHS intended to go about the day as respectfully as possible. “We have not called it an anniversary because an anniversary is something that you celebrate and this is not something that we celebrate,” Lovett said. “But, at the same time, we want to not forget and remember those who were injured and remember those, Preston and Bailey, who we lost.” Marshall County had their schools in session on the one-year mark. Lovett said this decision was made by the students as well as the families of the victims. “The majority of our students wanted to have school,” Lovett said. “We talked with them about how we wanted to commemorate the day. We wanted to be sensitive to their needs and their wishes, and the students wanted to have as normal of a day as possible.”
including students and staff, would like to approach the one-year mark. Tammy Blackwell, branch manager of the Calvert City branch of the Marshall County Public Library, explained that the feedback received from the project suggested that the community felt the commemoration should be conducted in a low-key manner, and the library’s branches acted accordingly. “We have not planned any events or programs for Jan. 23,” Blackwell said. “Instead, each of our branches will be marking the occasion with two lit candles.”
Many people and organizations have made strides to commemorate the oneyear mark in the Marshall County community and beyond. Lovett emphasized the range of support that Marshall County has felt over the last year. “It’s not just Marshall County, the whole surrounding area has been great with its outreach and the support they have shown,” Lovett said. “It is one of those things you appreciate and means so much, but you certainly hope you never have to repay it.”
Brock Kirk/The News
A storefront window in downtown Benton is painted in support of MCHS. The high school had several events planned for the students and their families. Each student attended their four classes for a shortened period of time, then had the opportunity to take part in a variety of activities during the afternoon. Lovett explained there were a variety of events to aid students in different parts of the healing process. There were both somber and uplifting activities that the students could choose from. Outside of MCHS, places around the community also participated in the day of remembrance.
Establishments such as the Marshall County Public Library, Marshall County Hospital, Marshall County Sheriff’s Office and several churches also paid tribute to the one-year mark in their own ways. Marshall County police officers attended the remembrance ceremony in Mike Miller Park and the first responders have been invited to attend a breakfast at MCHS on Jan. 25. Marshall County Hospital staff decided to support the students while also remaining respectful to the sensitivity of the day. Beth Cavanah, director of human resources at Marshall County Hospital,
Brock Kirk/The News
Marshall Strong signs line several streets on the days leading up to the one-year mark.
#StillMarshallStrong The Murray State News
News
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January 24, 2019
Shooting prompts security changes Miranda Carpenter Staff writer mcarpenter4@murraystate.edu
Safety has become a priority in the Marshall County school district administration for the 2018-19 year. After the Jan. 23, 2018 shooting, school leaders made initial security changes that were expanded upon over the summer break. On June 4, 2018, the District Safety Committee met to make a final determination on updated school security measures. Students were able to be a part of the decision for the new security procedures as well. “The students said, ‘We would like for you to do a book bag check, check all the backpacks that are brought into the school,’” Superintendent Trent Lovett said. “Starting on that Monday after (the shooting), my staff from the central office, along with teachers and administrators
from the high school, started checking every bag that was brought into the school.” Starting this school year, students must walk through metal detectors when entering the school. They are also not allowed to carry bookbags at the high school or middle school. However, elementary students are allowed to have backpacks, but they must be clear or mesh. “Students can bring purses and lunch boxes within a certain size, they can take the item through the metal detector with them,” Lovett said. “Athletic bags are also allowed. They can either take it through the metal detector with them, or they can take it to a station to be searched.” If a student has something in their bag or lunch box that is metal, such as metal cleats or a soda can, the detectors will go off. Students will then be directed to a different line to have those bags checked.
Photo courtesy of Marshall County Schools
Students are wanded when they enter school.
Marshall County High School only had one resource officer when the shooting happened. Since then, Lovett has hired four more for the county. Three of the resource officers are primarily stationed at the high school and two are stationed at the middle schools, while rotating to the various elementary schools. The resource officers are responsible for checking all entrances and exits to ensure the building is secure and doors remain locked. Additionally, Lovett said a new buzzer system was implemented this year. “We added more security measures on certain doors,” Lovett said. “The building was built in 1974 with 86 doors; you could go in or out all of them. We have added buzzers to certain doors, if someone lets someone in, a buzzer goes off to notify us that someone has opened the door.” Aric Pickard, parent of a Marshall County elementary student, believes the administration is taking great measures to ensure the students are safe. “I agree that the middle and high school should implement a no-backpack policy,” Pickard said. “I do think the clear backpack for elementary is a little much, but I do see where the administration is seeking the best interest for the students.” Another security measure the district is taking is adding more active shooter trainings for district faculty and staff members. “The high school had been through active shooter training prior to the shooting,” Lovett said. “Since then, some of our other schools have been through it, and now we have added additional schools to go through the training as well.” Chad Alderman, 1990 graduate from Marshall County, said he thinks it’s awesome that the
Photo courtesy of Marshall County Schools
When entering the school, students are required to walk through metal detectors. school has stepped up and implemented more training to ensure better safety measures are taken. “I feel we should have plenty of funding to support more officers or individuals for our schools and buses,” Alderman said. Gov. Matt Bevin and Secretary of Education Betsy Devos announced
a grant called Project School Emergency Response to Violence. Project SERV provides support for the district after experiencing a traumatic event in which the learning environment is disrupted. The funds will be used for certain activities to restore a sense of safety and security within the school and help stu-
dents go back to a normal school day. Marshall County School district was awarded $138,213 to help implement Project SERV. The program funds short-term and longterm education-related services for local schools to ensure students feel safe in their learning environmment.
News
January 24, 2019
Page 5
Jan. 23: Through the eyes of Gabriel Parker Daniella Tebib News Editor dtebib@murraystate.edu
Jan. 23, 2018 was a typical morning for 15-year-old Gabriel Parker. He woke up late, ate a bowl of cereal and had his mother take him to school because he overslept and missed the bus. When he arrived at school, he went straight to the band room to make sure his friends were in there and not in the area known as the Commons. He then took out his stepfather’s Ruger MK II .22-caliber pistol from his satchel and opened fire in the Commons Area. After shooting 16 students, he dropped the gun and ran
out the door. He hid with students who didn’t know he was the shooter until the police came in and arrested him. This is Parker’s account of what happened that day, as told by Captain Matt Hillbrecht of the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office in a video published on Nov. 27, 2018 in a CourierJournal article. He disclosed this information to Hillbrecht in an interview shortly after the shooting. Hillbrecht then testified in court on Jan. 25, 2018 about the confession Parker gave him and others during initial questioning. “This wasn’t really a question of who commit-
ted this act, it’s on video,” Hillbrecht said in court. “You know, it was a question of why.” Where did the gun come from? Parker told Hillbrecht he first thought about the shooting a week before. On Jan. 22, 2018, he took the first step. He carried a laundry basket into his parents’ room with the intent to secretly take his step-dad’s pistol from the top shelf of the closet without his grandma, who was at home with him at the time, seeing what he was doing. He put the gun in the laundry basket and took it back to his bedroom. The next morning, he
said he took the pistol out of the case and put it in his bookbag, or satchel as Hillbrecht said on the stand, along with a second magazine. There was also a magazine in the gun. Parker said he placed a hunting knife in the bag as well. “He took it because he feared the students would attack him when he ran out of bullets and he needed a way to defend himself,” Hillbrecht said. Did he act alone? “He refuted that anyone had knowledge of it,” Hillbrecht said. Parker told investigators he acted alone and did not tell anyone what he was doing.
Photo courtesy of Murray Ledger and Times
Gabriel Parker sits in court for a status hearing. What was the motive? While no motive has been officially estab-
lished, the rumor thrown around in the media was
,
see PARKER page 6
Timeline of the case Parker was transferred to circuit court as a youthful offender
Jan.
25
Feb.
9
Parker appears in court for a detention hearing where it was determined there was enough probably cause for the case to move forward
Kentucky attorney General rules the transfer of Parker to circuit court from juvenile court was constitutional
Parker was arraigned as an adult and the judge entered a not guilty plea on Parker’s behalf
Feb.
13
A grand jury indicted Parker on 2 counts of murder and 14 counts of 1st degree assault
Feb.
16
Griffiths filed a motion asking the court for a hearing to determine whether or not the school district tampered with witnesses
March March Aug.
12 16 Tom Griffiths, defense attorney, asked the judge to move the case back to juvenile court
3
Griffiths ask for state money to hire an expert witness
Nov.
30
Dec.
10
Judge Jamie Jameson sets witness tampering hearing for Feb. 1, 2019
Rosalyn Churchman/The News
News
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January 24, 2019
Sandlin and Chiles recount year of healing Blake Sandlin Sports Editor bsandlin1@murraystate.edu
Even one year after a school shooting terrorized Marshall County High School, the wounds that were created on that fateful January day still remain open. This reality is especially true for members of Marshall County’s Class of 2020. When alleged gunman Gabriel Parker created irreparable carnage in the hallways of his high school on Jan. 23, 2018, two sophomore students, Bailey Holt and Preston Cope, were killed and 18 others were injured. For two students who spoke to The News last year following the shooting, Knox Sandlin and Kaden Chiles, the one-year mark of the tragedy sparked
memories they’ve been longing to forget. Though the pain of the tragedy devastated the entire community, Sandlin said it shook his sophomore class to its core. “It absolutely was a ‘Class of 2020’ tragedy,” Sandlin said. “Of the 20 or so that were shot, the majority of them were in my grade. I don’t really take it as he was targeting us, and not to say other grades don’t understand or feel something for the tragedy, but we lost three of our classmates, two of the sweetest people I want to model my life after.” Marshall County students were forced to confront the gamut of emotions after the shooting. For Sandlin, the feelings surrounding the event evolved from shock, to sadness, to anger that still persists
Photo courtesy of Knox Sandlin
Knox Sandlin said he is still coping with the sadness and anger over the shooting and death of his classmates.
PARKER From Page 5 that he had been bullied. However, that was not discussed in the initial questioning. Instead, Hillbrecht said Parker told him that he was an atheist and his life had no purpose or
meaning, and other people’s lives also had no purpose. He said he wanted to see how the students would respond, as well as police and society. What was his demeanor? Hillbrecht said he didn’t resist. There were no issues. “No emotion. Not angry, not
to this day. “When it first happened, I was in complete shock and when I heard who, my jaw actually dropped,” Sandlin said. “Those are both cliches, but it for real actually happened. I felt really no emotion. lt wouldn’t sink in, but as soon as I got home that night, I was devastated. It sorta moved from sadness to anger in the days after, and that’s how it remains now, solely from the fact that I knew Gabe [Parker]; we had like three classes together. I knew he was kind of not socially popular, so I was always like, ‘What’s up, Gabe?’, and made a little handshake and stuff like that.” Sandlin, who was friends with Cope, has struggled with the loss. All the more challenging, though, has been finding the appropriate outlet to address and cope with his emotions. Because the shooting impacted his class so directly, Sandlin said he feels like outsiders, even those in other grade levels, can’t truly empathize with him. “I don’t hate discussing it, but feelings-wise I don’t like to dwell on it with others because I’m so conflicted,” Sandlin said. “But no matter how much I try to talk about my feelings or whatever with another who feels the same, I’m still left with an emptiness and pain that leaves me so low. I think the majority of people feel the same way that knew Bailey and Preston, but people cope in their own way, which is fine, but it’s difficult to be around the people who aren’t affected or are trying to cope through jokes and insensitivity because I don’t want their memories to be besmirched.” Therapy dogs, donations and national outreach that came in the wake of the shooting
served a valuable purpose, but for Sandlin, the well-intended gestures don’t provide the answers to the questions he’s been asking and don’t ease the anger he’s been feeling. “I have so much anger toward him, but I can’t express it, so it kind of just remains,” Sandlin said. “Anger for the act, but also that Preston had to be a victim to that; straight up the least deserving. I promise you he was as perfect as you could get, and for that to happen to him is actually what’s depressing.” Chiles has taken a different approach to coping with the shooting. The Marshall County junior is now a year removed from watching from mere feet away as Parker opened fire in the crowded Commons Area of the school, and while he hasn’t completely healed, he’s committed to not letting the events of that day define him. “I think about it sometimes, but not often,” Chiles said. “It doesn’t define me; it’s in my past now. It didn’t take me long to understand and learn from it. It definitely is a serious part of my life, but I do not make it the only part of my life. I sincerely miss the time before it happened and wish it wouldn’t have happened, but also 2018 as a whole was a great year for me. I am not going to allow Gabe Parker to interfere with my life at all. That would let him win. Marshall County is stronger than that.” After speaking with Cope and Holt’s parents, Marshall County High School administrators decided to reserve the one-year mark to commemorate the lives of their fallen classmates. Both Chiles and Sandlin said they didn’t plan to attend school that day. “You hear people talk in the
Chiles said he not letting Gabe Parker define him or Marshall County.
upset,” he said in court. The interview lasted an hour and 54 minutes and in that time, Hillbrecht said Parker was “cold, callous.” “He was never emotional,” Hillbrecht said. “His voice never quivered, never had any inflection. He didn’t tear up.” The interview took place in the conference room at the Marshall
County Sheriff’s Department. It was an interview that Hillbrecht said was “bizarre.” “He was very relaxed,” he said. “In fact, one of the more relaxed defendants in my career.” Hillbrecht said Parker was very polite and respectful in his conversation with investigators, but when showed a picture of one of the deceased students, he
had no response. Parker asked how many people he hit in the shooting, and wanted to know if any of them died. He was reportedly very responsive in the interview until he asked for a lawyer. Hillbrecht gave him water and asked if he was hungry. They even went to McDonald’s to get him a cheeseburger and fries, which he ate.
Photo courtesy of Kaden Chiles
halls and you just can’t help but get angry sometimes,” Sandlin said. “That’s the main reason why I just can’t go to school the 23rd, because I know people will be more sensitive, but there will also be a few that don’t take it as serious as it is to me, and I just don’t want to be around that.” While each student experienced different versions of that calamitous morning, and each is choosing to cope with it differently, they’re unified in their efforts to move on from the past and establish a new normal. “I just want to ensure that it isn’t the only thing that defines us,” Chiles said. “Marshall County is a great place to be raised, and I don’t feel unsafe ever at the school or within the county.”
January 24, 2019
News
Page 7
‘A night of healing and remembrance’
The Marshall County community gathered at a commemorative ceremony at Mike Miller Park on Jan. 23. Tim Bertram created artwork in front of the crowd and Cody Myers performed “Together We’re Strong.”
Brock Kirk/The News
News
Page 8
January 24, 2019
Nationwide school shootings in 2018
3/13 Seaside High School in Seaside, Cal ifo rnia: Dennis Alexander, a teacher who was also a reserve pol ice officer, was teaching a gun safety l esson and accidentally fired his gu n in the cl assroom, injuring three studen ts.
Oct. Source: www.edweek.org Note: this list only includes shootings that happened during school hours in K-12 schools.
2/1 Salvador Castro Middle School in Los Angeles, California: After a 12-year-old girl, in what police believe to be unintentional, opened fire, two 15-year-old students were shot. Two other students and one teacher were injured as well, but these injuries were because of gunfire.
2/14 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida: 17 students were shot and killed by former student, Nikolas Cruz. Seventeen other students were also wounded and hundreds fled, making this the third-deadliest school shooting in U.S. history.
4/20 Forest High School in Ocala, Florida: Sky Bouche, former student, fired at the bottom of a locked door, wounding a 17-year-old student on the 19th anniversary of the Columbine shooting. 5/11 Highland High School in Palmdale, California: A then 14-year-old student returned to his previous school and opened fire in the morning. One student was shot in the arm.
5/25 Noblesville West Middle School in Noblesville, Indiana: Then 13-year-old Ella Whistler was shot seven times, but survived the shooting. Jason Seaman, science teacher, was also injured after the then 13-year-old shooter opened fire in the science classroom.
5/18 Santa Fe High School in Santa Fe, Texas: Eight students and two teachers were shot and killed after then 17-year-old, Dimitrios Pagourtzis, opened fire in an art class. Ten others were also injured in the shooting.
Sep.
9/11 Canyon Springs High School in North Las Vegas, Nevada: 18-year-old Dalvin Brown died after being shot by Sakai Kayin French on the school’s campus.
Aug.
8/28 DSST Cole Middle School in Denver, Colorado: One student was injured when a then 14-year-old student opened fire on school property just before dismissal.
May
3/20 Great Mills High School in Great Mills, Maryland: Two students were shot by then 17-year-old, Austin Rollins inside the school, before he shot himself. Desm ond Barnes survived after being shot in the leg. However, Jaelynn Wiley died after being shot in the head.
F e b . March April
3/7 Huffman H igh School in Birmingham, Alabama: 17-year-old senior, Courtlin Arrington, was shot and killed by Michael Jerome Barber inside a classroom.
Jan.
1/23 Marshall County High Scho o l in Benton, Kentucky: Bailey Ho lt and Preston Cope were both killed by then 15-year-old, Gabriel Parker after he opened fire in the high school’s Common s Area. Fourteen other stu den ts were shot, and fou r more were injured.
1/22 Italy H igh School in Italy, Texas: Then 15-year-old, Noelle Jones was wounded after then 16-year-old, Chad Padilla opened fire in the high school’s cafeteria and shot her six times.
10/29 Butler High School in Matthews, North Carolina: 16-year-old Bobby McKeithen was killed after Jatwan Cuffle shot him during a fight in the school’s hallway.
Milli Cecil/The News
News
January 24, 2019
Page 9
Resource guide for school safety released Ginni Sisemore Opinion Editor vsisemore@murraystate.edu
The Trump administration created the Federal Commission on School Safety in response to school shootings that happened between Jan. 1 and Feb. 15, 2018, including the shooting at Marshall County High School. During a roundtable discussion on Dec. 18, 2018, President Donald Trump discussed the commission’s final report with commission members, Florida’s Attorney General, the president of the Santa Fe Texas School Board, several students and families affected by the Parkland, Florida shooting and Marshall County Sheriff Kevin Byars. “We’re here to discuss concrete steps of our nation that… we’re going to take to prevent school shootings and keep our children safe,” Trump said. According to the report, the purpose of the commission is to research and recommend solutions for school violence. In March 2018, the Trump administration advocated the passage of the STOP School Violence Act and The Fix NICS Act, which were created to combat school violence. The Fix NICS Act was signed into law shortly after on March 23, 2018. These pieces of legislation propose funding for proactive strategies to identify and prevent school violence, such as evidence-based training, anonymous reporting systems, threat assessments, intervention teams and increased coordination between schools
and local law enforcement, and a stronger background check program for purchasing firearms. In addition to these bills, the report provided suggestions about how schools can prevent, protect, mitigate, respond to and recover from violence. “Character education and a positive school climate can help students feel connected to, rather than isolated from, teachers and fellow students,” according to the report. Marshall County Schools implemented procedures similar to the policies suggested in the report after the shooting on Jan. 23, 2018. Marshall County Superintendent Trent Lovett enacted a policy that required bag checks and metal detector wanding of each student who enters the school. The new policy created an opportunity for teachers and administration to connect with students as well. “You were able to communicate and every student had that communication with two different people: the person doing the wanding and the person doing the bookbag check,” Lovett said. The report also highlighted access to mental health care providers as an important tool to prevent violence. Lovett has already implemented this in Marshall County Schools. “We have added additional mental health counselors,” Lovett said. “We have two mental health counselors that are employees of the Marshall County school district, then we have also contracted with an outside agency, Mountain
Comprehensive Care.” Access to mental health counselors allow for early identification of students in need and gives them access to treatment they would otherwise not have, according to the report. It also provides suggestions to mitigate violence, including training and increased security. “All school personnel play a role in school safety and should take part in school safety training,” according to the report. Lovett said faculty and staff at Marshall County High School had participated in an active shooter training just weeks before the shooting occurred. After the shooting, Lovett increased the number of school resource officers from one to five and implemented new security measures. The report stated SROs are vital to protect students and teachers from violence, as those with specialized training are the most equipped to handle it. It also emphasized the importance of building security and suggested schools be assessed for risk to identify and resolve lapses in security. The commission also recommended that federal and state governments provide grants to school districts to improve building security issues identified in risk assessments. Suggestions were provided for responding and recovering in the event of a shooting, such as school hardening and knowing how to react. School hardening makes it more difficult for active shooters to cause damage once they
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have begun an attack. This includes making the school harder to enter and creating safe places within each classroom. When each student knows the protocol for an active-
shooter situation, risk is diminished. Regular drills ensure each student know how to respond. In Kentucky, regular “lockdown drills” are mandated by law. These drills simulate an
active shooter situation. They are not announced to students and are not called a drill for the duration of the practice. Schools nationwide have adopted these suggestions in response to school violence.
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January 24, 2019
Kentucky legislators combat school shootings Daniella Tebib News Editor dtebib@murraystate.edu Kentucky legislators introduced a new bill to combat and prevent future school shootings throughout the state. Senate Bill 1, the School Safety and Resiliency Act, was introduced Jan. 9 on the Senate floor by Sen. Max Wise, R-Campbellsville. The bill was designed to strengthen safety and security in schools by adding more school resource officers and mental health counselors. There are four main sections of the bill: personnel, systems and structures, a culture of student connection, and accountability. Wise was motivated to introduce the bill by the fatal school shooting at Marshall County High School on Jan. 23, 2018. “One year ago this month, the fabric of our security, the security of our children, our grandchildren and our school districts, were torn apart with the deadly
shooting on Jan. 23 at Marshall County High School,” Wise said on the Senate floor. “This was not the first school shooting in the Commonwealth, and I will not stand here and predict that the Marshall County tragedy will be the last, because unfortunately we live in a society where evil exists; an evil that no piece of legislation can truly prevent from happening.” Wise and Rep. John Carney, R-Campbellsville, also co-chair a 16-member work group that is comprised of House and Senate members. Members visited many different groups involved in school safety around the state to develop this bill. School safety is a common goal among Kentucky legislators, regardless of ideology, Wise said. It has become a bipartisan effort that is inclusive and comprehensive of different ideas on how to strengthen safety. “There’s (sic) so many different opinions on what’s the best way to keep our students safe across
the whole country, but these are best practices from different places,” Carney said. Legislators want parents, students and constituents to know they are making this one of their main priorities. “We had the unfortunate tragedy a year ago of Marshall County this month, but what we saw across the state… it’s a great place for children to go to school,” Wise said at a press conference on Jan. 9. “It’s a tough issue that we know there’s no magic legislation that’s going to protect everyone from evil that can occur, but we have to show the Commonwealth and those parents and everyone else, that we are taking this as a priority and doing the best job possible.” Trent Lovett, superintendent of Marshall County Schools, said he is very pleased that legislators are making safety in schools a priority, but funding is necessary to make it happen. “Ten years ago, if you would’ve asked any administrator in the
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Sen. Wise said the Marshall County High School shooting was his motivation to champion the bill. state what they could do to make schools safer, they probably would’ve told you the exact same things that are on this framework of Senate Bill 1,” Lovett said. “But the funding wasn’t there then, and the funding is not there now… I
just hope at some point in the near future, the funding can go along with it.” The bill is currently assigned to the Senate Education Committee and is awaiting a committee hearing.
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Candles line the Michael Minger memorial during the Phoenix Day memorial.
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In memory of Preston Cope #PlayLikePreston “He was a blessing from the moment that I knew I was going to have him. He had the sweetest smile and the most contagious giggle.” - Memories of Preston Cope Facebook
Bailey Holt #BeLikeBailey “Smile & Be Strong! ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.’ Philippians 4:13” - Jasen Holt Facebook
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January 24, 2019