Lee County Schools looks to utilize programs spurred by Sandy Hook shooting

The School District of Lee County could soon teach elementary students how to protect each other from dangerous situations.

The District is looking toward lessons from a program started by loved ones of those killed in the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut in 2012.

We looked at how this initiative would make schools safer.

Recently, two Lee County students were arrested. Lee County Sheriff’s Office believes the two planned a Columbine-like school shooting. A fast-thinking substitute teacher heard something and said something, which helped avoid potential tragedy.

So Lee County Schools has a plan to teach middle and high schoolers in the District how to react to a potential threat. The District hopes to offer a program designed by the parents of the Sandy Hook massacre.

Mark Barden misses his 7-year-old son, Daniel, every day. Daniel was among the victims of the Sandy Hook shooting.

“This mission is very personal to me, to protect kids from having to, to suffer such a horrible tragedy,” Barden said.

Barden’s mission is to help train teachers and students and staff members to recognize the signs of someone on the verge of violence.

The Sandy Hook Promise created three programs:

• “Say Hello”
• “See Something, Say Something”
• “The Save Promise Club”

“If somebody like my little Daniel, or somebody was trained in the start with hello program, who was able to recognize chronic social isolation, maybe had one more conversation with this individual, it may have changed everything,” Barden said.

“We need that same kind of awareness, that same kind of just increased awareness of making sure that when students and staff become aware of something that they report it,” said Robert Spicker, a District spokesperson. “You don’t want them to just be bystanders anymore.”

Broward County and Palm Beach County school districts say these programs are effective.

“Approximately 300 lives already have been confirmed having being saved as a result,” Barden said. “We are watching numbers of the bulling go to almost zero, as I said. So it’s really effective.”

Barden says that’s the Sandy Hook promise he made to his son.

Thanks to the STOP the Violence Act of 2018, Lee County Schools can get the Sandy Hook promise programs free of charge.

MORE: Sandy Hook Promise – Protecting Children From Gun Violence