On Sept. 29, 2024, a mass shooting took place at Pleasure Ridge Park High School in Louisiana, Kentucky, leaving two students shot and injured in the parking lot during a high school football game. Since the beginning of the year, gun violence has affected 30 schools. A study at Northwestern IPR (Institute for Policy Research) shows that the use of drugs used to treat mental health conditions increased by over 25% among teenagers living near fatal school shootings; the negative effect on students’ mental health was still measurable three years after the incident.
Following the recent threat to Newark Schools on social media, which led to district officials working hand in hand with law enforcement, David Monisera, dean of security and emergency management at St. Benedict’s Prep, has been working to keep the community safe. When questioned about the students’ role in maintaining the safety of the school, he highlights, “… this is a team effort because I can’t be everywhere.” Monisera states that even the simplest actions like closing doors can have a meaningful effect. Furthermore, he urges students to speak up when they notice something worrisome that could harm the community.
“I want to bring our threat assessment team to students, so if you notice someone who’s having a hard time and you are concerned, let us know. Students help by being vocal and giving information [about things] they are concerned about, or if they notice something that might be wrong.”
St. Benedict’s has implemented numerous precautions to ensure everyone’s safety. “We have a lot of things in place,” explained Monisera, “We have a camera system, and many of our doors have an automatic locking mechanism. Additionally, we are also implementing a visitor check-in system that runs background checks.” For Monisera, ensuring safety is not just a duty– but a passion, “I really enjoy being able to make someone feel safe or help them in their time of need.” His commitment is shown through the many emergency protocols and safety measures at St. Benedict’s such as regular fire drills and additional security cameras placed throughout the property.
According to reports by the Washington Post, the United States regularly records the highest number of school shootings worldwide. Compared to other countries, from 2009 to 2018 the US reported approximately 288 alone, while the other countries combined had roughly 27 school shootings. Different countries have responded quickly to such tragedies. For example, in contrast to this troubling trend in the US, on March 13, 1996, Britain experienced their deadliest school shooting at Dunblane Primary School leaving 16 children and one teacher dead, and 15 injured. Based on BBC News reports after the incident, the government of the UK responded quickly by banning public ownership of most handguns, in February 1998, following the voluntary surrender of more than 160,000 handguns from British citizens.
With 30 US school shootings this year alone, the statistics are triggering for many children and their families who have experienced school violence. Following the Apalachee High School shooting on Sept. 4 in Winder, Georgia, Ohio Senator, and Vice Presidential hopeful J.D. Vance asserted at a rally in Phoenix to an audience of 17,000 people “…mass shootings are a fact of life,” provoking backlash from many and highlighting the need for immediate reform. While gun violence continues to be a prevalent concern nationwide, Monisera remains committed to ensuring a safe environment for both students and staff in St. Benedict’s Prep.
