Security becoming a top priority at rural schools

By Christian Richardson, Journal staff writer | Posted: Saturday, November 06, 2004

It was a normal weekday in Everly, Iowa. Teachers and students were concerned with reading, writing, arithmetic and the upcoming weekend.

But, a 15-year-old with a loaded revolver forced everyone to pause.

Authorities have alleged that on Oct. 12, Joseph Dean Menke, a sophomore at Clay Central Everly High School brought the handgun to school with intent to use it.

According to Menke's aunt, Sheryl Kahl, he was being harassed by upperclassmen and fellow athletes.

"He had some problems with other students," said Clay County Sheriff Randy Krukow.

In the days following the arrest, Clay Central Principal Chuck Kuester assembled his 150 students to explain the basics of the arrest and the school's harassment policy; concerned parents gathered before the school board; and a sheriff's office deputy traveled to area schools.

At rural Iowa schools, where violence isn't expected, a teen bringing a handgun to Clay Central, May 2003's threatening letters sent to Spirit Lake High School athletes and last year's Spirit Lake student threatening Columbine-like acts give school officials and authorities reason for caution.

The schools have implemented security policies but often rely on the principals, teachers and students to report bullying or suspicious people. Authorities are urging open communications and asking school officials to report all harassment to local police departments and sheriffs' offices.

It was the incidences of bullied and outcast students shooting and killing fellow classmates nationwide in the mid to late 1990s that led Clay Central to implement its crisis management plan six or seven years ago, Kuester said.

Clay Central security often consists of teachers in the hallways and in the classrooms keeping an eye out for anything unusual, Kuester said. Students aid in reporting information to adults. The procedure has proved effective, he said.

To enhance student safety the sheriff's office had applied for a federal grant that would have placed a school resource officer at the high school and surrounding schools, Krukow said. But, the grant application was recently denied, he said.

"We could've had somebody there," Krukow said about Oct. 12. "Hindsight's always 20/20."

According to Spencer, Iowa High School Principal Mike Healy a school resource officer connects his 750 students with the Spencer Police Department. Through a rapport the teens openly communicate with the Spencer Police Department officer, who is based in the high school but also visits other district schools, Healy said.

When threats, harassment and bullying occur, they are investigated and dealt with, Healy said.

Kuester said harassment isn't a major problem at Clay Central. Threats and violence don't often take place there, he said.

"I just want to emphasize I've got good kids in my district," Kuester said. "This was very isolated."

When the gun was discovered, the sheriff's office was immediately contacted, Krukow said. Deputies came to the school and placed the teen in custody, he said. They then searched the building and interviewed students to make sure Menke was acting alone, he said.

Since the incident the sheriff's office has been contacting schools and asking them to review or update their security policies. Krukow said he's suggesting that the buildings have one entry point and that school officials contact authorities regarding any threats or harassment complaints.

"It's my hope that if teachers and administrators are aware of things that are happening we can get it stopped before it gets to be a run-away train," Krukow said.

Each spring the school board, administration, sheriff's office and parents update the crisis management plan. Kuester said this spring they'll evaluate what they learned Oct. 12 and make any necessary changes. Kuester said he could not disclose what they've learned.

In April 2004, five years after students were killed at Columbine High School in Colorado, Spirit Lake High School students and teachers were evacuated as officers reacting to threats searched the building.

The high school was locked down but nothing was found. Spirit Lake Community Schools Superintendent Tim Grieves said the student who made the statements was dealt with.

A 2003 track meet at Spirit Lake was canceled because students were receiving threatening letters.

Grieves said the letters are still arriving "on and off." "It's never stopped," he said.

When the threatening letters started coming, school officials implemented a security policy -- one the high school, with a 2004 enrollment of 419 students, still follows, Grieves said.

The high school asks that all visitors enter through the front and back doors. People are asked to sign in and wear a visitor's badge.

"It's not fool proof," Grieves said. "It's just being aware of anybody that's a stranger in the building."

The high school, with a dean of students, two counselors and a principal, uses adults to maintain hallway security, Grieves said. This keeps strangers out and protects students from each other, Grieves said.

As school officials reflect on past events, evaluate security procedures and look toward the future they remain optimistic.

"Fortunately we're going to live and we're going to learn," Krukow said.

Contact Christian Richardson at (712) 293-4219 or christianrichardson@siouxcityjournal.com