Hillsboro police stationed officers at schools across the district after a shooting at Silver Rail Elementary in Bend killed a teacher and three children Oct. 15.
Superintendent Travis Reiman sent a message to students, staff and families that afternoon, expressing condolences and outlining the district's safety measures, the Hillsboro News Times reported. Reiman wrote that nothing shakes the community to its core like violence against children in a place where they are supposed to be safe.
The Washington County Sheriff's Office also announced Friday, Oct. 16, that youth services officers and additional patrol deputies would be present in and around schools countywide.
District balances safety talk with normalcy
Beth Graser, the district's chief communications officer, said administrators shared resources with principals on maintaining routines while giving students space to talk about the shooting and receive emotional support.
One parent contacted the district through its tipline asking whether students would know what to do if a lockdown began while they were outside their classrooms. Graser said staff are trained to check hallways and common areas, bring students into classrooms, secure doors, close blinds and move away from windows.
"I think the challenge is finding the right balance between providing enough information and reassurance … and spending so much time on it that students become hypervigilant and continually on edge," Graser told the News Times.
Law enforcement trains for active threats
Sgt. Aaron McCarver said Hillsboro police deployed school resource officers, its community impact team and patrol officers to campuses on Friday, Oct. 16. He said the department recently conducted an active-threat exercise at a local middle school.
The sheriff's office conducts annual multiagency exercises using simulated school shooting scenarios, according to Cpl. David Huey. Last year's exercise took place at Hillsboro High School.
Both agencies train alongside firefighters and emergency medical personnel.
Security infrastructure in place
All doors stay locked during the school day. Visitors must use a video doorbell and present identification to enter a secure vestibule that opens only to the lobby, according to district records. The district equipped all schools with controlled entry systems, intrusion alarms and cameras using funding from its 2017 construction bond.
Other measures include protective film on entry windows and a distributed antenna system that keeps police and fire radio signals working inside buildings. The district also runs a two-level student threat assessment process, with Level 2 assessments bringing in law enforcement, mental health professionals and the Washington County Juvenile Department.
The district operates wellness centers at multiple schools, staffed by four care coordinators who connect students and families with mental health services.
How to report concerns
Families can report safety concerns to school administrators or use the district's mobile app tipline. The statewide SafeOregon tipline is available around the clock at 844-472-3367 or safeoregon.com.
