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Catoosa County schools review monthly panic‑button tests and behavior threat assessment process
Summary
District staff summarized monthly safety meetings with principals and school resource deputies, monthly panic‑button testing (including May/August in‑service tests), vendor updates and the required behavior threat assessment and management (BTAM) process used at every school.
District safety staff briefed the board on May 5 about recurring safety work across Catoosa County schools, describing monthly safety meetings between principals and school resource deputies (SRDs), routine panic‑button tests, and the district’s behavior threat assessment and management (BTAM) procedures.
The presenter said principals and SRDs meet monthly (August–May) via Google Meet for 30–60 minutes to discuss safety items ranging from panic‑button testing to behavior threat assessment review. May and August tests are scheduled during in‑service days so staff can run the test procedures and cross-train before students return.
The safety presentation listed participants who routinely attend the meetings: lead school resource deputy (referred to as Lieutenant Sheramie), emergency management director Steve Quinn, his deputy Jason Gunner, the GEMA homeland security coordinator Kevin Stanfield, district safety staff including Jared Holder, and school principals. Vendor updates mentioned a school dog program and use of Raptor Technologies for access control checks.
The BTAM process was described as a required, four-step practice at every school to identify, analyze, assess and manage potential threats, with membership that can include a school administrator, SRD, counselor, nurse, social worker, special education or 504 coordinator and district student-services leadership. The purpose is to protect potential victims and address underlying concerns while coordinating supports.
District staff said the monthly discussions and drills are designed to finish the school year with protocols tested and staff familiar with procedures; no policy changes were proposed in the meeting.
