COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho — Coeur d'Alene Public Schools is considering the creation of a Student Threat Assessment Team (STAT) to help keep students, staff, parents and others safe.
According to the proposed policy, the board would direct the superintendent or designee to develop and update the STAT, along with corresponding procedures. The policy said administrators can activate the threat assessment process when schools learn of a threat, and school leaders can initiate the procedure when a threat occurs, regardless of the forum.
The policy also said parents, guardians and/or family members would be interviewed during the threat assessment process, but neither the student nor their family members would be part of the threat assessment team.
The policy reads that the STAT team will consist of trained school professionals and other multidisciplinary individuals that are deemed appropriate by the superintendent or the designee.
A threat is defined as "An expression of intent to do harm or act violently against someone or something. Threats may take many forms, such as verbal, written, drawn, electronic, or made by gesture. They may also occur in many environments, including on and off campus."
According to the policy, when a threat assessment has been warranted, the following individuals could be interviewed:
- The student who made the threat
- Any other student witnesses or other students who may have relevant information concerning the threat or the student(s) who made the threat
- Parent(s)/guardian(s)
- Staff; and/or others with knowledge of the incident
"These interviews may help determine the level of risk associated with the threat so that an appropriate response to the incident can be developed," the policy reads. "Based on the threat level, a threat assessment team may develop an intervention plan and share it with the parent(s)/guardian(s) of the student who made the threats. All parties must engage in the process to ensure physical and emotional safety of our school community."
According to the policy, if the student responsible for the threat does not participate in the interview and assessment, the school district and the board could impose additional disciplinary action, including expulsion.
At Monday night's meeting, the board moved the plan forward by putting it up for public comment next month. It would be the first of its kind in Idaho if it is adopted.