School Safety has come to the forefront of discussion again after a recent school shooting in Parkland, Florida that killed 17 people. The discussion has expanded to include the participation of students.
About 200 North Royalton High School Students participated in a student-organized walkout on Wednesday, March 14. The nationwide student walkout was organized to memorialize the 17 victims of the February 14 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, calling for increased school safety. “These students gathered on the sidewalk outside the Heritage Hall entrance to the building. They stood or walked silently on the sidewalk for 17 minutes and quietly returned to class immediately afterward,” according to North Royalton School Principal Sean Osborne. The area was secured by the North Royalton Police Department.
“Regardless of their decision to participate or not, I am proud of our entire student body for the respect and support they show each other every day. Our students are an excellent representation of the caring families who have raised them,” said Osborne.
“At North Royalton City Schools, we take the safety of our students and staff seriously. I firmly believe that students must feel welcomed and accepted, as well as academically, emotionally, and socially secure in school. When students feel that they are accepted and welcomed, school is a safer place,” said North Royalton School Superintendent, Greg Gurka.
“To accomplish this, it takes a collective effort of our communities, and we all have to take responsibility in the effort. At our homes, in our parishes, and in our numerous community organizations and activities, we need to be able to discuss things with our children and listen to them. We need to be cognizant of changes we see in them and not hesitate to talk about them and talk to others.”
Gurka went on to talk about various aspects that the school district addresses various forms of violence. He said that district has in place a bullying prevention program, with assemblies and activities throughout the year. The district has and will be reviewing again the processes and procedures in place with the School Resource Officer and administrative team. “The staff of North Royalton City Schools is planning an all-staff training in the Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate (ALICE) protocols and procedures. Also, we have our security plans on file with the Ohio Department of Education, the State Attorney General’s office, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, as well as our local police and fire departments,” said Gurka.
Part of the district’s current procedures are monthly fire drills, periodic tornado drills and three lockdown drills. “ In addition, all of our buildings have camera systems that our administrators can access on their desktop computers, tablets, and phones to see live feeds. The North Royalton safety forces also have access to these live camera feeds,” said Gurka.
Safety and security measures have been strengthened with changes in entry procedures at the school buildings not only during school hours, but before and after. According to Gurka, “at the high school, no students will be admitted until 6:45 a.m. unless meeting a teacher. At the middle school, the time is 7:30 a.m., and at the elementary school, it is 8:45 a.m. All visitors will have to buzz in as usual, including entrance to the high school through Heritage Hall, which will now be locked.”
At the March 12 North Royalton Board of Education meeting, board members passed a resolution supporting school safety and reducing violence in schools. The resolution states that “the children and school employees of our nation deserve to attend school without fear of death or injury, and their families deserve to send them to school without the same fear.” It notes that the responsibility to prevent violent incidents should be mutually addressed by all citizens and “cannot be relegated to school districts alone.” With that, it suggests that all work together to determine how best to ensure the safety within the school district and implores the President, Federal and State Legislators and the Ohio Governor to enact legislation with funding for:
“1. Enhanced mental health services and substance abuse treatment so that all individuals, including children, have sufficient access to these services.

2. Increased access to school safety measures, including, but not limited to, School Resource Officers (SROs), school safety infrastructure, and other security measures designed to protect students and staff from an active shooter on school grounds.
3. Training for school employees and enhanced coordination with law enforcement agencies and first responders to ensure appropriate responses to incidents of violence in schools.
4. Preserving the balance between the right to own firearms and the protection of students and school employees from any act of violence.”
Board of Education President Susan Clark said that at a recent meeting the Board discussed how the administration has been very proactive in looking forward with the needs for security improvements. “We feel even more confident and pleased with the plans going forward that the new and renovated buildings will be even more secure than they are now.” Board member John Kelly noted that “it’s not just a gun problem. It’s not just a mental health problem. It’s not, it’s all of that… We can’t just pick and choose to do just one thing, and I hope our legislators listen.”
North Royalton Police can be notified at 440-237-8686 by residents, students, staff or parents who think that an individual may be exhibiting warning signs. There is also an anonymous 24/7 tip line through the Safer Schools Ohio tip line at 844-723-3764.

By GLORIA PLEVA KACIK
Contributing Writer

March 14, 2018 – Not just a date
To some, March 14, 2018, is just a date. A day at work, a day to clean the house, or a day to shop for groceries, but this day was much more to some students and staff at North Royalton High School. To them, March 14, 2018, was a nationwide walkout and an opportunity to peacefully have their voices heard.
The walkout took place across the country at 10:00 A.M. Students gathered outside on this snowy, cold day to silently protest gun violence and honor those 17 students who lost their lives in the Parkland shooting last month. Students remained silent for 17 minutes to honor the 17 lives lost and made posters so their voices could still be heard.
The walkout was planned and executed by senior class president Chazzlyn Jackson. She was humbled to put something like this together. Chazzlyn stated, “I was nervous that there weren’t going to be enough people. So I’m very pleased with this outcome.” Students were greatly moved by this experience and felt like they were taking a stand for something they believe in. Freshman Aspen Higgins said she was “absolutely moved by the amount of students who were standing in the cold to have their voices be heard.” But, on the other hand, art teacher Ms. Erney stated, “I actually was not surprised by the amount of students. NRHS knows how to come together.”
Senior Brianna Norwalk stated that she felt “empowered” as she walked out of the school. She said, “I felt like finally our voices were being heard by whoever was willing to listen.”
As the 300+ students walked out, there were some students who didn’t participate. Everyone has different views, and the students who did march understand and respect the other students’ opinions, as not everyone thinks the same. Chazzlyn said, “We all have our reasons for participating and for not participating. I actually respect the students who didn’t do it just to get out of class. We all have our reasons, but I still respect those who didn’t participate.”
Students also voiced their opinions and showed their views in other ways. Senior Erika Tollis said, “Although the walkout was for a good cause, I would rather stay in class and show my opinions or have my voice be ‘heard’ in a different way. I understand what the point was, but I don’t feel like the walkout was doing as much justice for the recent tragedies. Just because I didn’t participate doesn’t mean I don’t have respect for those students that did.”
March 14, 2018, will be remembered by the students who participated in this prideful event. A chance for any teen to have his or her voice be heard is a good one and a great learning experience. Chazzlyn thanks everyone, “Especially the youngsters,” for participating.
Regardless if students participated or not, there are many ways to help their community. They could walk UP. Walk up to that new student and introduce yourself. Walk up to a teacher and thank them. Walk up to the kid with no partner. Walk up to that boy or girl who sits alone at lunch. Make others feel as if they have a place…give them a place. Be the change the world needs.
Students thank the participants, staff, and administration for their cooperation in this peaceful protest. These new student activists hope there will be more peaceful protests and opportunities to show off their views and have their voices be heard. “We want the change we deserve…”
Submitted by Angela Pell
Senior at NRHS