SHAWANO, WI – Keeping students and staff safe remains an ongoing priority for the Shawano School District, with officials emphasizing the importance of prevention, emergency training and partnerships with local first responders.
Shawano School District Buildings and Grounds Director Shawn Mathwich says maintaining a safe learning environment requires a comprehensive approach that goes beyond simply securing school buildings.
During a recent appearance on WTCH’s Breakfast Club, Mathwich discussed the district’s safety procedures, emergency preparedness efforts, staff training and communication with families.
“We take a comprehensive approach to school safety,” Mathwich said. “The goal is to create an environment where the students can focus on their learning and that the staff can focus on teaching, and families can feel confident that safety is our priority.”
Prevention and Preparation Remain Key Priorities
Mathwich says the district’s approach begins with identifying potential safety concerns, maintaining secure facilities and ensuring employees understand their responsibilities before an emergency occurs.
That includes regularly reviewing safety procedures, conducting training exercises and coordinating with emergency response agencies.
Rather than treating school safety as an annual requirement, Mathwich says the district continuously evaluates its procedures to identify opportunities for improvement.
“It’s not something we want to address just once a year,” Mathwich said. “It’s an ongoing process of evaluation.”
Following training exercises or actual incidents, district officials conduct what is known as an After Action Review, or AAR.
The process allows administrators and staff to examine how an incident was handled, identify potential weaknesses and determine whether adjustments are needed.
Mathwich says those evaluations are an important part of strengthening the district’s overall emergency response plans.
Staff and Students Participate in Regular Safety Training
Preparing employees and students for potential emergencies is another major component of the district’s safety strategy.
Mathwich says new and returning employees receive safety information and review emergency expectations before the school year begins.
Training continues throughout the year as schools conduct required emergency exercises, including drills mandated by state regulations and fire codes.
However, Mathwich says the district wants those exercises to be more than a routine requirement.
“We want the drills to be meaningful,” Mathwich said. “We don’t want to just do those drills to check a block. We want everybody to take away something.”
He explained that repeated practice allows staff and students to understand their responsibilities and respond appropriately if an actual emergency occurs.
The district also works with emergency responders during training exercises to help identify potential concerns before a real incident takes place.
Balancing Building Security With a Welcoming Environment
While school security remains a priority, Mathwich says the district also recognizes the importance of making its buildings welcoming places for students, families and community members.
He says maintaining that balance requires clear procedures for entering school buildings, monitoring facilities and supervising students throughout the day.
“We want our schools to be welcoming places where students, families and community members can feel comfortable with coming in and participating and being involved,” Mathwich said.
“At the same time, being welcoming doesn’t mean that we can overlook that safety and security piece.”
Mathwich says establishing clear expectations allows the district to maintain appropriate security without discouraging family and community involvement.
He also emphasized that school safety is a shared responsibility involving students, employees, parents and visitors.
The district maintains a comprehensive safety plan and can share certain sections with the public.
However, Mathwich says some information must remain confidential to protect students, employees and the effectiveness of emergency response procedures.
Partnerships With Emergency Responders Strengthen Preparedness
Mathwich also highlighted the district’s working relationships with local law enforcement, fire departments, ambulance services and other emergency response agencies.
He says coordinating with those organizations before an emergency occurs helps ensure everyone understands their responsibilities when immediate action is necessary.
The district works with emergency personnel to review safety procedures, coordinate potential responses and identify opportunities for improvement.
Mathwich says outside perspectives are particularly valuable because emergency responders may recognize concerns that school officials might otherwise overlook.
“One of our priorities is making sure that the communication and coordination are established before any emergency occurs,” Mathwich said.
He explained that having established relationships and a shared understanding of responsibilities puts schools and emergency personnel in a stronger position to respond effectively.
The district has also participated in safety audits with law enforcement agencies and continues working to address recommendations identified through those reviews.
District Urges Parents to Rely on Official Emergency Communications
Another important part of school safety involves how information is shared with families during an emergency.
Mathwich says the district understands that parents want immediate information whenever an incident occurs at their child’s school.
However, he emphasized that officials must first verify details and ensure students and staff are safe before issuing public updates.
“During an emergency, information can change quickly, and we have to prioritize the safety of students and staff, verifying information and making sure what we communicate is accurate,” Mathwich said.
That process can sometimes create a delay between when an incident begins and when information is released to families.
Mathwich says those delays are intended to prevent inaccurate information from spreading while allowing school personnel and emergency responders to focus on the situation.
He encourages parents to keep their contact information updated with the district and monitor official school communication channels for instructions.
Families are also being asked to avoid relying on rumors or unverified information circulating on social media.
“We will send out that communication when we get the information, and sometimes it takes a few extra minutes to get that accurate information,” Mathwich said. “We don’t want to put out false information.”
Mathwich also noted that a large number of phone calls during an emergency can create additional challenges for staff responding to an incident.
He asks families to allow school personnel to handle the situation and communicate verified information as soon as it is appropriate.
School Safety Remains an Ongoing Community Responsibility
As the district continues reviewing its procedures and preparing for potential emergencies, Mathwich says the ultimate goal remains providing students with a safe environment where they can concentrate on their education.
He emphasized that school safety requires continued cooperation among district employees, emergency response agencies, parents and the wider community.
“At the end of the day, students deserve to come to school feeling safe, supported and ready to learn,” Mathwich said.
“As a district, we take that responsibility seriously. We’ll continue to review our procedures, train our staff, work with our emergency response partners, and look to improve what we currently have.”
Mathwich says the district appreciates the continued support of families and community members as it works to provide the safest possible environment for students and staff throughout the Shawano School District.
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