Published Thursday, April 22, 1999 Most school policy manuals were written in the 1960s, said Colleen Heim, a private consultant on safe schools. The threat has become different. "Kids are not what they were 20 years ago," Ms. Heim told a group of school administrators, parents, and local politicians on Wednesday.
The start of her assessment of school safety in Greenville came a day after the bloodbath in Littleton, Colo. The timing was coincidental, said Ms. Heim who was invited several months ago.
Although Greenville schools have not fallen victim to violence, school administrators asked the Hollidaysburg, Pa., consultant to come because of previous incidents of school violence in the U.S.
"We have seen nationally that the issues are different than they used to be. Schools are not prepared. We are acknowledging that these issues need to be addressed," said Sandra Rakar, East Elementary School principal and head of the safe school advisory committee.
Funded by a $2,000 grant from the former Mercer County Drug and Alcohol Commission, Ms. Heim this week is assessing Greenville Area School District buildings and policy and procedures. She said she will make recommendations to local school officials later.
"School-related murders have occurred in small, rural, and predominately white communities, lacking histories of violence and extreme crime rates," Ms. Heim said. "The kids have access to weapons because -- and I don't mean anything political by this -- they go hunting," she said.
Although schools and communities do little about vandalism and bullying, As "gateway behaviors to more serious violence" they warrant attention, Ms. Heim said.
"Why should kids put up with threats and intimidation that adults wouldn't?" the consultant asked, noting the students behind Tuesday's killings were considered outcasts.
