(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
KENOSHA, Wis. — Kenosha Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Jeff Weiss is reassuring families that safety remains the district’s “highest priority” as recent threats and incidents continue to rattle students and parents.
In a letter sent to families and staff, Weiss acknowledged that “recent incidents and reported threats have understandably raised concern and fear,” adding that every report is taken seriously and investigated thoroughly .
The district says it has seen an uptick in reported threats and concerning behaviors, which Weiss partly attributes to increased encouragement for students, staff, and families to speak up when they see or hear something troubling . He emphasized that when it comes to student safety, “inaction is not an option” .
According to the statement, trained staff evaluate all threats and tips using a formal threat assessment process. When concerns rise to a significant level, the district works with law enforcement agencies and the Department of Justice. That process can include interviews and home visits. Weiss stressed that threats — even those made in anger or intended as jokes — carry serious school-based and legal consequences .
The district outlined an extensive list of safety measures already in place, including ALiCE and “I Love You Guys” safety protocols practiced twice a year, school resource officers in all high schools, off-duty officer support, locked buildings during school hours, security cameras, gunshot detection systems, visitor screening procedures, and criminal background checks for staff and volunteers . KUSD also participates in the School Threat Assessment Coalition of Kenosha and utilizes reporting systems such as Speak Up Speak Out and Safer Schools Together’s worrisome online behavior reports .
Weiss said the district is also working on additional steps, including policy updates related to metal and weapons detection, purchasing metal detectors for high schools with potential expansion to other schools, and secure entrance upgrades at seven buildings that currently do not have them .
In his message, Weiss urged families to talk with their children about the seriousness of making threats and encouraged a “report, don’t repost” mindset, asking students to report concerning content to school staff, law enforcement, or trusted adults rather than spreading it online .
“Safety requires partnership,” Weiss wrote, emphasizing that students benefit from adults who model calm, thoughtful responses and reinforce that safety is a shared responsibility .
The letter comes amid heightened scrutiny of school safety practices across the district, as law enforcement responses to student threats have increased in recent weeks.
17 Responses
Proceeds to do nothing
A typical beta male.
….”criminal background checks for staff and volunteers”……
Which means…KUSD is not already doing that?
Of course it seems public schools and some non-profits are pretty much a revolving door when it comes to dealing with policy or criminal violations among staff.
Staff, volunteers, guest speakers all have background checks done, prior to entering a classroom. He was including current practice.
“Staff, volunteers, guest speakers all have background checks”…
Not completely true. They do some background checks based on name and DOB. That is NOT a background check. A complete background check is being FINGERPRINTED and having the FBI and Wisconsin DOJ doing the checks. Unified does NOT do that.
That’s not true at all! I was asked to help mentor a few “troubled” kids before entering High School the following year. I went and never was i ever asked for ID. Yes, I knew the councilor asking for help but nothing officialy was requested of me. I went every week and tried my best to no avail.
A woman who was actively working with KUSD could not pass the Boy Scout background test to be a leader, Boy Scouts has higher standards for safety than KUSD.
Kusd does this already its a very good process they have in place. And yes wen a staff screw up kusd deals with it.
If Weiss is so concerned about students pay for more scanner machines you are way over paid to begin with show your concern for the children!
I think another clever acronym or catchphrase should do it.
Seven is just not enough.
Already accept that Firefighters can’t afford food to feed their kids, am waiting for online ads by the Kenosha Firefighters Union letting us know how Democrats will deal with this emergency.
Simple solution….Spend another $100,000 on “NO GUN ZONE” signs. “Works” everywhere it’s been tried.
/s
This guy is a typical kiss ass lib …don’t take a stance on anything …
These were all planned threats from the school district and administrative staff. Dont be fooled taxpayers. The administrators want your money from future referendums. As much as the metals detectors are needed, make sure someone reputable and accountable gets estimates for those metals detectors. Hold that school district accountable. Make sure the referdenum is just money for the security equipment for all those schools. Do not cave in for the extra amount of money that the administrators want for their raises. If anyone is getting raises is should school staff that are not administrators.
Your an idiot
How much tin foil you buy in a month? 😂
All these “concerned individuals” that want action immediately with higher level background checks, more metal detectors, etc. but voted no to the referendum. Bunch of dum dums.