Iowa Schools Wrestle with Security Options Following Deadly Shooting
Wednesday marked the first day students in all grades returned to classes in Perry Community School District following the January 4 shooting in which a 17-year-old student killed a sixth grader and wounded seven others—including Perry High School Principal Dan Marburger, who later died from his injuries.
“As we mourn Dan’s passing and continue to grieve the loss of Ahmir Jolliff, and support the victims as they recuperate, we are aware of the importance of bringing our school community back together,” said Perry CSD Superintendent Clark Wicks. “In times like this we need one another, and we need to be in community.”
The tragedy has sparked debate and conversations about everything from school security funding and using AI to quickly identify firearm threats to the availability of mental health services in schools and arming teachers.
Authorities say Dylan Butler had a pump-action shotgun and a small-caliber handgun when he shot and killed 11-year-old Ahmir Jolliff and fatally wounded Marburger before classes started on January 4—the first day back from winter break. Butler then killed himself, said police.
Butler’s parents released a statement following the shootings, saying in part, “When we dropped off our son for school on January 4th, we had no inkling he intended the horrible violence he was about to inflict. On the way to school Dylan had been discussing with us of future plans and it felt like he was ready to get back to school after Christmas vacation and the start of a new semester. Dylan’s sister, our daughter, was in the school at the time of the shooting. We simply do not understand how this could happen and why Dylan chose to do what he did.”
Funding Issues
The Associated Press recently reported that while Iowa pledged to spend $75 million in federal pandemic relief funds to strengthen school building security back in 2022, most of that money has yet to be spent.
The AP reported that Perry was in the process of finalizing their paperwork to apply for a grant through the program when the shooting occurred.
AI Options
Less than 100 miles to the west of Perry, Woodbine Community School District is using artificial intelligence to help identify firearms on campus.
Using a program from the company ZeroEyes, the school says that when a camera recognizes a gun, that information is sent to the ZeroEyes command center for verification and if confirmed, an alert is immediately sent to school officials and law enforcement with a precise location.
ZeroEyes says it currently is being used in hundreds of schools in 40 states.
Mental Health Options
Perry had mental health services for staff and students in place prior to the shootings, and have beefed up their in-school programs, along with adding community resources as well.
A recent study released by the National Center for Education Statistics said 90 percent of all public schools have increased social and emotional support for students in response to the coronavirus pandemic and that the increased mental health resources may be working.
Arming Teachers
Roughly 70 miles northwest of Woodbine, Siouxland Christian School is now arming staff members to help respond quickly to any violent incidents, according to local new station KTIV.
"About 18 months ago, we just started looking at options. And obviously, to take the step to have armed staff in our school is a big one. And it requires a lot of conversation with a lot of stakeholders," Siouxland Christian School Supt. Lindsay Laurich told the news channel.
Laurich added that the armed staff members volunteered and were carefully trained and vetted. The school did not share how many staff members are armed on campus.
"In a worst-case situation, the action that's required is going to be incredibly challenging. But it has to be done to protect all of the other students and staff in the building," she said.