Alpine School District implemented the Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guidelines (CSTAG), a research-based system designed to help schools identify, assess, and respond to concerning behaviors before they escalate. The program aims to identify risk early and intervene with care rather than focusing on predicting violence or punishing students.
The CSTAG process utilizes trained teams consisting of administrators, counselors, psychologists, law enforcement, and other specialists to evaluate situations where a student may pose a potential threat to themselves or others. These situations can include gestures, statements, behaviors, or concerning patterns found on social media.
David Lund, the district administrator over CSTAG, stated that the purpose of the process is to provide a systemic way to evaluate threat levels and offer resources to avoid future violence. He noted that the value of the process lies in removing potential bias or emotion from the evaluation of an individual or situation.
Research indicates that most cases evaluated through this protocol do not involve actual intent to harm, but often reveal students who are in need of additional support due to frustration or being overwhelmed.
The protocol guides school teams through collecting information and determining if a concern is minor or serious. This process leads to the development of safety and support plans tailored to student needs, which may include peer interventions, conflict-resolution support, counseling services, or collaboration with families.
In more serious instances, CSTAG teams coordinate with local law enforcement and district specialists to ensure immediate safety. Lund explained that the program has been used for over thirty years and maintains consistency by evaluating each threat using six basic questions.
Theresa Hill, an Administrator and Safety Specialist at Pony Express Elementary, noted that the protocol helps students understand the seriousness of certain actions and provides teachers with peace of mind knowing reports will be handled. Hill also stated that involving parents in the process helps them feel that their children are being cared for through robust safety measures.
Lund emphasized that student safety is the district's primary concern, which includes a focus on improving physical facilities and increasing resources for students facing mental and emotional hardships.
