Milwaukee South News

The Oak Creek-Franklin School District (OCFSD) is emphasizing the importance of school safety throughout October, extending discussions beyond the traditional school safety week. Superintendent Dan Thielen and Oak Creek Chief of Police David Stecker have highlighted this initiative in a joint letter.

During Safety Month, students will engage in various age-appropriate lessons on staying safe at school. These include lockdown procedures, evacuation techniques, and the "See or Hear Something, Say Something" campaign. Elementary students will also watch a police officer video presentation and attend an in-person Fire Prevention presentation by the Oak Creek Fire Department. Students from 4th to 12th grade will view the video “Be Prepared, Not Scared,” featuring retired OC Police Captain Mike Bolender and members of the Oak Creek Police Department.

Parents are encouraged to discuss these safety lessons with their children throughout October.

Students will also learn about SPEAK UP, SPEAK OUT (SUSO) Wisconsin, a resource center introduced by the Wisconsin Department of Justice last year. SUSO aims to keep students safe by providing a comprehensive place for reporting safety concerns, including threats. According to feedback from office administrators at schools using tip lines, 77% believe it has increased awareness of safety issues.

In classrooms and common areas such as offices, hallways, gymnasiums, libraries, and cafeterias, posters provided by the I Love You Guys Foundation outline emergency response protocols. These posters are available in multiple languages: English, Arabic, Punjabi, Portuguese, and Spanish. Additional languages can be requested through school principals or office secretaries.

Additionally, parents should check their elementary child's backpack for information about NO-COST Child Safe Kits provided by American Income Life (AIL). These kits contain vital data that can help authorities if a child is lost or abducted. The partnership between AIL and schools ensures these kits are available at no cost to families or schools.