The Sconi

The Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of School Safety (OSS) is conducting a Behavioral and Threat Assessment Management (BTAM) training in Appleton, Wis. as part of preparations ahead of the 25th anniversary of the Columbine High School shooting.

Attorney General Josh Kaul highlighted the importance of such trainings, stating, "It has been 25 years since the Columbine tragedy, and, sadly, violence in schools hasn’t gone away. The need to be vigilant about school safety has only become clearer... we must take a proactive approach to keeping kids safe in school."

The training aims to equip school administrators, mental health professionals, security personnel, community partners, and law enforcement with the necessary understanding of threat assessment in violence prevention within schools. According to the DOJ, acts of targeted violence are often premeditated, and the training will focus on identifying potentially concerning behaviors and developing intervention plans to manage threats effectively.

The BTAM training provided by OSS offers school-specific applications and best practice recommendations for BTAM teams, encouraging proactive strategies over reactive disciplinary measures. The session aims to clarify team member roles, define responsibilities, and enhance the understanding of threat identification within school environments.

In an effort to make the training accessible, the OSS is conducting a series of eleven sessions across various locations in Wisconsin. These sessions include locations such as Pewaukee, Whitewater, Fennimore, and Green Bay, among others, to ensure widespread access to BTAM knowledge and resources.

Apart from the in-person training sessions, OSS also offers a free eLearning module titled “Foundations of Targeted Violence Prevention” in collaboration with other departments. The goal of this course is to educate the public on recognizing threatening behaviors and providing avenues for intervention to prevent targeted violence incidents.

As the 25th anniversary of the Columbine shooting approaches, the Office of School Safety continues its efforts to enhance school safety measures and empower communities with the necessary tools and knowledge to prevent violence in educational settings.