Legislature seeks to strengthen school safety

The 2025 legislative session has charged the Education Interim Committee with conducting a thorough study of school safety in Montana, as outlined in House Joint Resolution 53 (HJ 53).

This initiative comes at a time when some alarming incidents have already occurred, including threats made against high schools and a recent stabbing incident in Billings involving a teacher and a student. Such events deeply affect communities across the state.

When school districts are not adequately prepared, the responsibility falls heavily on school administrators and law enforcement to act swiftly and decisively to protect students.

To strengthen school safety in Montana, all districts are completing a survey focused on 10 key actions to deter threats and prevent mass casualty events. The survey also stresses readiness for effective response if prevention fails.

The data collected from these surveys will help to develop recommended legislation for the 2027 legislative session to enhance school safety statewide.

The Ten Essential Actions for School Safety, as published by the federal government website, schoolsafety.gov:

1. Complete a comprehensive school safety assessment: Each district must identify potential threats, likely consequences, and specific vulnerabilities. This process includes creating a detailed school safety plan to guide preparedness and response. 

2. Foster a positive school climate for students: Promoting respectful, trusting and caring relationships helps open lines of communication. When students feel safe to ask for help or report concerns about their peers, potential issues can be addressed proactively.

3. Plan for campus and classroom security upgrades: Security planning begins with a risk assessment to reveal gaps and develop strategies for acquiring new technology and equipment, all while maintaining the integrity of the school’s educational mission.

4. Implement anonymous reporting systems: These systems are effective tools for identifying threats of targeted violence or suicide, allowing authorities to intervene before any harm occurs.

5. Coordinate with first responders: Collaboration with School Resource Officers (SROs), local law enforcement, and emergency medical teams is essential. This involves joint training, conducting risk assessments, and developing a comprehensive emergency operations plan.

6. Conduct behavior threat assessments: When credible threats are reported, schools and law enforcement must evaluate, corroborate, and create management plans to intervene and mitigate risks swiftly.

7. Strengthen school-based law enforcement: Employing trained SROs has proven effective in preventing active shooter incidents. SROs build trust with students and can respond rapidly to potential violence.

8. Expand access to mental health resources: Many attackers exhibit signs of suicidal thoughts or depression before an incident. Providing students with counselors and psychologists enables early identification and intervention, helping to prevent violence.

9. Conduct regular emergency drills: Routine drills establish “muscle memory” and clarify roles during emergencies. The Federal Commission on School Safety recommends options-based approaches, such as “Run, Hide, Fight,” to adapt to a variety of situations.

10. Monitor social media while safeguarding privacy and free speech: Continuous monitoring of online communications within schools helps identify threats, at-risk behavior, and cyberbullying, always with respect for individual rights.

Polson Republican Linda Reksten has served three terms in the Montana Legislature, most recently as chair of the House Education Committee. She represents House District 13.