Park Hill Board of Education members heard from a concerned parent at the board meeting last week, held just hours before a 13-year-old Lakeview Middle School student was taken into custody after a handgun was discovered in his locker.
The incident was reported by the Platte County Sheriff’s Office on Friday, Aug. 26. The school was placed on a security hold at around 10:30 a.m. that day during the preliminary investigation. Deputies took the student into custody without incident and determined there was no immediate threat to the school, its students or staff.
“The safety of our schools is a top priority for both the Platte County Sheriff’s Office and the Park Hill School District,” said sheriff Mark Owen. “We have a strong working relationship with the Park Hill School District to help protect our schools, the students, and the staff. The good work performed by the staff of the Park Hill School District and our School Resource Officers is what allows us to keep our kids safe.”
Just the night before, parent Stephanie Greenwood spoke to the board during public comments, encouraging the district to adopt a safe gun storage education program.
She cited statistics stating the vast majority of guns used in school shootings and other violence, including suicides, are guns readily available to teens in the home.
The isolation and uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic along with a spike in gun sales has caused a surge in gun violence in schools.
“We should not accept as normal the threats to our schools or to so many schools around the country,” Greenwood said.
Lakeview has made headlines twice within the past year due to threats. A student was disciplined in April for making a threat against the school.
In October 2021, a social media threat of a school shooting involving a student bringing a gun to school caused concern at the school.
Juvenile officers investigated the incident and extra police were on hand at the middle school to ensure the safety of the students, staff and community.
Greenwood suggested the district implement the Be Smart gun safety program to allow open communication about how to secure guns in the community.
“The program does not ask individuals not to have guns but asks adults to secure guns to keep kids safe,” Greenwood said.
The North Kansas City and Liberty school districts have adopted the Be Smart program in recent months. More information on the program is available at besmartforkids.org.