LOCAL SCHOOL OFFICIALS WATCH RASH OF SCHOOL VIOLENCE CLOSELY
Monday, October 2nd, 2006 -- 1:53 PM
On Friday, a principal was shot at the rural Weston School district, located northwest of Madison. On Monday, another deadly school shooting at an Amish school in Pennsylvania."I think that's exactly what happens. I think there is a copycat reaction that goes on as these are publicized," says Neillsville administration John Gaier.
Gaier says recent events have prompted school officials to brush up on their own safety policies.
The biggest change schools have implemented since school shootings became a big problem in the 90?s is simply locking the doors. Only three doors at Neillsville schools remain unlocked during the day, and they?re all next to school offices.
But Gaier concedes it is still very easy to gain entry to the school.
"It is a public building. It's pretty tough to be secure all the time," Gaier says.
Most students that turn to school violence say they feel like outcasts.
"It's difficult to know what goes on in the mind of all of our kids. We try make sure that all of our kids are as healthy emotionally and physically as they can be," Gaier says.
Ironically, the Wisconsin Office of Justic Assistance held a School Crisis Preparedness Workshop in Eau Claire on Monday.
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