Sept. 24, 2024 11:45a
(WGTD)---Kenosha high school students told state Attorney General Josh Kaul Monday that they feel the safest when communication is two-way.
For years, students have been told to report anything suspicious. But school officials and law enforcement can't forget to reassure students that their information is being taken seriously and has been thoroughly investigated, they said.
Kaul and the director of Office of School Safety--an arm of Kaul's Justice Dept.--are touring the state meeting with students to discuss safety issues. On Monday, the pair met with panels of students from both Bradford High School and Harborside Academy.
Meeting with reporters afterward, Harborside student Jaylen Lissad said he feels most safe when he knows the school's resource officers are actively checking out tips. "That brings me a sense of protection," he said.
Another Harborside student, Lisette Gamez, said students are not always informed of what's going on. "Sometimes it's not always brought to us," she said. Gamez was grateful for the panel discussion. "I'm glad that we're being able to share our concerns."
Bradford Principal Jered Kotarak acknowleged that two-way communication is important. "They (the students) need to feel safe enough to report those things and know that when they are reporting things that those things are being noted and followed up with," he said.
The Office of School Safety runs a statewide, 24/7 tip line. Over the past four years, over 11,000 tips have been received. Last year, 84 of those communications have been about plots to attack schools. This year, over 120 reports have been received, according to OSS Director Trish Kilpin.
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