San Diego

Secret Service Issues New School Safety Guidelines

The guideline seeks to prevent school shootings and targeted violence

The Secret Service released a report Thursday aiming to prevent school shootings across the nation.

The report, titled "An Operational Guide for Preventing Targeted School Violence," seeks to prevent mass shootings at school by identifying troubled students before they turned violent.

In recent years, schools across the nation have been adding drills, locks, school police and complex security camera system to prepare for the next school shooting.

The latest school shooting was at Marjorie Stoneman High School in Parkland, Florida where 17 people died.

It's a scary time for a mom, Jessica Pittman said. She was so concerned about school shootings that she considered home-schooling her young son.

"It's a top concern," the Tierrasanta mom said. "I have him in arms reach constantly cause I don't know what could happen even in my own driveway."

Five months after the Parkland shooting, the Secret Service issued a guideline on spotting suspicious behavior in students, assess their risk for violence and identifying strategies to mitigate the risk

"The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting served as the impetus to go beyond our past work and go in depth regarding the how — how do we solve this epidemic?" Secret Service Director Randolph Alles said in a statement.

The Secret Service analyzed 37 incidents of "targeted violence" at schools for the report. The report also found that students knew of the attackers' plans in advance but did not report to an adult. That, the agency said, highlights the need for schools to create an atmosphere where students feel comfortable sharing their concerns.

The guide is also meant to be comprehensive. It recommends forming "threat assessment teams" of teachers, coaches, guidance counselors, mental health professionals and law enforcement to direct, manage and document threats.

"Obviously all parents are concerned but I certainly trust our school administrators and teachers to follow smart guidelines and be prepared for it," one parent, who did not want to be identified, told NBC 7.

School districts throughout the county have already started to update their security measures. The Poway Unified School District is upgrading the campus security system. Schools in Chula Vista have added doors that lock from the inside to keep kids and teachers in and shooters out.

An updated comprehensive study on how to prevent school shootings and targeted violence is expected to be completed in Spring 2019, the Secret Service said.

Pittman said she welcomes the study.

"I don't see how it could hurt," she said. "Obviously having a plan and being prepared is the best way to go about it."

Contact Us