Rodney Wakeham
Every school day our teachers, support staff, volunteers and administrators strive to provide a climate that is inviting to the learning process but also safe and secure. Adding to or changing the physical features of our buildings and modifying safety protocols are progressive steps in becoming more secure.
The district is looking closely at measures (office security, added technology and door hardware) that will directly impact the safety of our buildings. Some of these can be addressed now and others are part of the proposed bond on May 8, 2018.
Another aspect of creating a nurturing climate is related to the daily actions of the individuals in our buildings. This is where I am asking for your help. Please have a conversation with your child that he/she needs to be aware of his/her words and the impact they can have on themselves and others. Any words that are used that can be interpreted as a threat are going to be taken seriously; they will not be dismissed as idle talk. This is unfortunate but necessary.
Students making statements that are identified as a threat or making statements with the intent to cause a disruption of school will be dealt with through the student code of conduct and also shared with the Trenton Police Department through the School Resource Officer.
Trenton Public Schools is encouraged by our students’ willingness to share with a teacher or principal (see something — say something) situations that are potentially a threat to our district. Students sharing information quickly after hearing it allows the district and law enforcement to quickly get to the source, while waiting for information to surface on social media forces the wading through of layers of rumors to get to the truth.
Many incidents that are investigated are determined not to be viable threats, but we will thoroughly investigate any information provided to the district. If you receive information related to the safety of Trenton Public Schools, please contact a district administrator or the district SRO, Officer Jake Davis. SRO Davis can be reached through his email: davisj@trenton-schools.com or his direct line, (734) 365-0575.
Thank you for partnering with Trenton Public Schools to make all of our buildings, “A Great School for Each and Every Child.”
Rodney Wakeham is superintendent of Trenton Public Schools.