PHOENIX — ABC15 is partnering with local school and law enforcement leaders to hold a town hall on school safety as hundreds of school threats have impacted students, educators, and their families in recent weeks.
We've heard from viewers from every corner of the Valley who are worried about the safety of their schools as many of the threats have led to arrests and felony charges against young children and teens. The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office says that since the beginning of September, its office has charged 15 cases involving threats made by juveniles against local schools. Several others are under review.
Watch the town hall in the player below:
Panelists include people across the education system, from superintendents to teachers, parents, students, and law enforcement. It included people from across the Valley, from Deer Valley to Apache Junction, and Scottsdale to Tolleson.
Have a story idea or a question that wasn't addressed during the town hall? Email us at share@abc15.com.
PANELISTS
The following individuals took part in the "School Threats: A Community Conversation" event:
- Dr. Curtis Finch Superintendent | Deer Valley Unified School District
- Dr. Scott Menzel | Superintendent, Scottsdale Unified School District
- Dr. Jason Reynolds | Interim Superintendent, Paradise Valley Unified School District
- Dr. Carlos Perez | Director of Safe Schools and SEL programs, Cartwright Elementary School District
- Sergeant Kane Kimble | Violent Crimes Bureau, Phoenix Police Department
- Commander Cindy Ewer | Criminal Investigations Division, Apache Junction Police Department
- Melissa Girmscheid | Teacher, Tolleson Union High School District
- Trina Berg | Teacher and President of Peoria Education Association
- Kendall Catalon Songer | Social worker, Osborn School District
- Joshua Kolsrud | President and CEO, Kolsrud Law Office
- Samantha Huizar | Student, Phoenix Elementary School District
- Adelina Martinez | Parent, Phoenix Elementary School District
RESOURCES
In collaboration with the involved school districts, we've created a resource list for students and parents:
- 211 – 211.org (Dial 211)
- 24-hour helpline connecting callers to local resources including housing, food insecurity, utility assistance and other crises
- 988 Lifeline – 988lifeline.org (Text or call 988)
- Suicide and crisis lifeline
- Teen Lifeline – teenlifeline.org (602-248-8336 (TEEN))
- America’s Cyber Defense Agency: Active shooter preparedness – cisa.gov
- American Red Cross: Disaster Preparedness – redcross.org
- Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence – acesdv.org
- Arizona Counter Terrorism Information Center – azactic.gov
- Submit tips through their website
- Arizona Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force – azicac.org
- National Association of School Psychologists – nasponline.org
- School violence prevention tips
- Talking to children about violence
- Bullying prevention
- Not MY Kid – notmykid.org
- Prevention and intervention education organization
- No Place for Hate – noplaceforhate.org
- Anti-bias educational organization
- Mind 24-7 – mind24-7.com
- 24/7 mental health care provider
- Sandy Hook Promise – sandyhookpromise.org
- Gun violence prevention
- Gun violence prevention
