A school threat assessment summit in Butler County brought together law enforcement, educators, and mental health professionals to emphasize early intervention and prevention as key strategies to reduce school violence.
CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, Pa. —
Leaders in law enforcement, education, and mental health gathered at the RLA Learning & Conference Center in Cranberry Township for a summit focused on preventing school violence through early intervention and proactive measures.
“The idea is to get out ahead of these things, share information and identify risky behavior in advance so we can intervene and get the individual help before they carry out some sort of violent attack,” said Matthew Miraglia, CEO of Crisis Leadership Preparedness Solutions (CLPS).
The summit included school threat assessment training, which focused on recognizing at-risk behavior and preventing targeted violence in schools.
“We’re beginning to understand that prevention is the key. It’s not so much reactive. The tactical responses, the medical — we’ve got all that down. It’s the importance of prevention, and preventing these things before they happen,” said John McNelis, senior director of risk management for CLPS.
The training comes amid recent incidents of violence and alleged threats involving schools in western Pennsylvania.
In Butler County, 21-year-old Jonathan Hunter Kramer was arrested following a monthslong investigation into alleged plans to carry out or support an act of terrorism, with schools identified as a potential target. Additionally, a shooting outside a high school football game on Pittsburgh’s South Side last week sent three teenagers to the hospital.
“It’s safe to say that sometimes people get complacent. We get into the routine of things, the school year is underway, it’s Friday Night Lights, and people forget that we do need to keep in mind that there are people that are hurting out there, and if they’re not identified, they could cause harm,” McNelis said.
The training highlighted the importance of early identification of at-risk students, creating customized plans tailored to their needs, and reducing the risk of injuries if a critical incident occurs.
“As a retired administrator, I know that time is valuable. And oftentimes, many administrators are asked to wear many hats in terms of responsibilities. You can’t expect everyone to be an expert on everything, and by hosting these summits, we can provide experts in areas of safety and security to our schools and hopefully enhance school safety across the board,” said Scott Stahl, CLPS director of client success.
Educators emphasized the importance of building relationships with students early in the school year to foster trust and prevent violence, while also bridging the gap between law enforcement and schools.
“There can often be a divide between the law enforcement world and the school world, looking at a mental health capacity and making sure that we have an understanding of what the law is and what the mental health community faces, and having an understanding of each other and making sure that that community comes together and is working as a team and is working toward the same goal of safety and support together,” Stahl said.
Organizers stressed that early intervention and identifying warning signs before a situation escalates could be key in preventing school violence.
