The montello school district (MSD) employs 114 staff who educate 593 students living in montello (population 1,431), several smaller nearby townships, and a surrounding rural area of 177 square…

The montello school district (MSD) employs 114 staff who educate 593 students living in montello (population 1,431), several smaller nearby townships, and a surrounding rural area of 177 square miles in wisconsins marquette and green lake counties. The district operates two traditional schools (forest lane community school, k-6; montello junior/senior high school, 7-12), one in person charter school (high marq environmental school, 6-12) and one virtual school (montello virtual charter school, k-12) within one 210,000 square foot building. Administrative offices are also located on the 40 acre campus. Close proximity to the marquette county sheriffs department (.5 miles) and montello fire department (.6 miles) have allowed for a close relationship when IT comes to planning and implementing school safety and security initiatives. Due in part to high levels of poverty (montellos median household income is $43,036 compared to $67,080 for the state overall & 48% of MSD students are economically disadvantaged), MSD has pressing needs related to school climate, mental health, and behavior. According to the latest youth risk behavior survey results, 43% of 9-12TH grade students and 53% of 6-8TH grade students experienced bullying. Significant numbers of students report that they rarely/never feel safe at school (19% in grades 9-12, 14% in grades 6-8, and 18% in grades k-5). In spite of its small size, the district has dealt with large and rising numbers of violent incidents. In 2020-21, MSD suspended 23 students for incidents including drugs, endangering behavior, and other violations-twice the state rate (3.8% VS 1.7%). In 2021-22, 89 elementary students were involved in 82 severe behavior incidents, 209 middle school students were involved in 179 incidents, and 32 high school students were involved in 36 incidents. In the past two school years, students have brought guns, ammunition, and knives to school, engaged in fights, threatened to light the school on fire, and vandalized school property. To address these issues, research-based school climate and mental health programs have been initiated and enhancements in school security were made. This school violence prevention project will help address the remaining challenges using funds to: enhance internal communication with two way radios; deter potential crimes from happening (and easily identify those who commit them) by upgrading lighting and security cameras and purchasing a portable metal detector; enhance security and protect students by improving the districts entry vestibule, adding instant-lock deadbolts to more doors, and upgrading the exterior/interior door access control system; and, increasing the msds expertise in planning for and addressing school safety emergencies by allowing the assistant high school principal to become a wisconsin department of public instruction certified school safety coordinator. Successful implementation will result in achievement of the projects goal: the montello school district will implement layered security and multiple deterrents to provide a safe environment for all students, staff, and visitors and to ensure the district is prepared to respond to all emergencies while remaining mindful of the balance needed between guaranteeing security and providing a welcoming environment.