As part of our ongoing commitment to ensuring the well-being of our scholars and employees, we want to address school safety, especially in light of recent school tragedies across the United States.
Youngstown City Schools takes any and all threats seriously. We thoroughly investigate them internally and through our partnership with local law enforcement. We have a detailed safety plan, which we regularly review, and we practice security protocols.
It's important to emphasize the seriousness of threats. If a scholar even makes a noncredible threat as a prank, that can have substantial consequences, as outlined in our Code of Conduct, including potential criminal charges and legal implications.
Reporting suspicious or potentially threatening activity can save a life. The Ohio School Safety Center (OSSC) has partnered with the Buckeye Sheriff's Association and the Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police to create awareness through a video PSA called Joining Together for School Safety. We encourage you to watch this video with your child to promote awareness.
The OSSC provides an anonymous reporting system, Safer Ohio School Tip Line (844-723-3764), to report safety concerns. Crisis response professionals are available 24/7 to assist with submitting concerns to local law enforcement and schools for investigation. You can call, text, use the Safer Ohio smartphone app, or even submit via the webform to report concerns.
We encourage you to have this conversation with your child, whether they are in first grade or high school. We never know if something is truly credible; if you see or hear something, please say something.
Youngstown City Schools deeply appreciates your efforts to contribute to a safe and healthy school environment. Your support is invaluable.