Concerns rise over safety in schools

Across different schools in Columbia County and Oregon, there is a rising number of students reporting feelings of anxiety and disconnection with their school. A large number of students don't feel safe or valued in school, citing recent issues like the ongoing St. Helens student abuse cases and the local sextortion case. Although the case happened over a decade ago, it still affects our local community. When incidents like this happen, they impact the mental stability of both students and staff. In recent reports made in various Oregon counties, these accounts of alleged mishandling are making students scared to attend school and placing staff in an uncomfortable position, leaving a lasting impact on the school. As trust between students, staff, and communities decreases in cities like St. Helens, what is Clatskanie's plan to keep students safe?

When asked, “How do you feel the school board in St. Helens handled this incident?” Clatskanie Middle High School Principal Laurie Maughan said, “They should have followed the law, but I can't rate that on a scale because I don't know all the details. I thought it was interesting that they put not just the teacher but the principal, teachers, and members of the admin on leave.”

What is CMHS's main goal, and what are the procedures when there is a possibility of abuse, especially after St. Helens? “We do whatever it takes to keep kids safe,” said Maughan.“What we did was stop and look as a team at policy and procedure. In that review, we looked at procedures that we would follow in any situation that would be considered abuse.”

Clatskanie officials say their response included a full policy review, with an emphasis on better recognizing and reporting incidents, especially those involving sexual abuse or misconduct.

“We look for a lot of things,” Maughan said. “When we have anything like hate crimes, sexual assault, we review the procedures that we need to follow. We really dig into them when needed.” When asked about the community’s response in Clatskanie, Maughan also noted that while some conversations have occurred, there has not been significant backlash. “I’ve heard people talk, but nothing insinuating that they should start looking into Clatskanie,” she said.

The school staff the students interviewed believe that community trust is still largely intact, but acknowledge it’s a work in progress. When asked if the school has a good relationship with families, Maughan said, “Most parents, yes. I'm always open to talk to any parent when there's a concern. Do I think that they all agree with us? No.”

Clatskanie Middle/High School Counselor Natalie Krick emphasized that school safety isn’t just about rules and regulations, but it’s also about rebuilding community and students' trust and relationships. “It can create a barrier between the community and school district and impact the students’ and families’ trust with the school district,” Krick said. “The overall reputation of the school can be harmed and have lasting effects for several generations. It is harder to build a positive reputation after such a severe event has happened.”

Both sources acknowledge learning from past mistakes made by those before them. “I feel that Clatskanie is making strides on ensuring there is a clear process when taking reports of possible incidents occurring while at school—or possible school involvement if it is outside school hours or off school property,” said Krick. “I think that school districts and communities around St. Helens are all watching and learning from the mistakes that were made to ensure their personal school districts and communities don’t make the same mistakes.”

In order to help ensure student mishandling and/or abuse becomes less common, Oregon schools have been advised to talk more openly about how they handle reports of abuse or danger, so students and families can know who to talk to and what are the steps. Clear rules and procedures and open communication with the families that build the schools help rebuild trust.

If you are a student in Oregon or know of a student being abused by a staff member in our schools, there are multiple ways for you to reach out and get the help you need today. Some examples include telling a trusted adult. If you or another person is in a dangerous situation, there are three examples of a trusted adult. If it is safe to do so, you can tell parents/guardians about what's happening. Another is a teacher or school staff member who is a mandated reporter. Lastly, a school counselor who is trained to handle urgent/sensitive situations and can help in the reporting process is a trusted adult. If the student feels comfortable, another way to reach out is to report the issue directly to the school principal, vice-principal, or other administrators. Oregon law requires all school staff members to report suspected abuse to authorities. Students can contact the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) to report a teacher for inappropriate conduct. They can do this by visiting the ODE’s official website oregon.gov/ode or calling 503-947-5600. Finally, the Oregon Child Abuse Hotline is available 24/7. Students, or a concerned adult, can call 1-800-452-1999 in Oregon. If the situation involves immediate danger or harm, calling 911 or contacting local law enforcement may be the best way to get help immediately.

This article was written by the collaborative efforts of Evelyn Hughes, Carter White, Maria Altafini, and Lena Turk, who are students at Clatskanie Middle/High School. Student submissions are always welcome. Email submissions to kirk@waheagle.com for consideration.