DENVER — A shooting inside East High School last spring ignited a conversation about safety at Denver Public Schools. After a student shot two deans during a weapons search, the district brought back armed school resource officers.
Since their return, data 9NEWS obtained through a public records request shows DPS found fewer weapons in schools than in previous years.
The district's chief of safety points to several reasons for the downward trend.
"Clearly the reintegration of the school resource officers is probably one, but we also, if you look at our overall comprehensive safety plan, our school staff is also doing incredible work identifying students in crisis, students who need mental health support and doing that early intervention," said Gregory Cazzell.
Data from the district shows that in the 2021-2022 school year, DPS confiscated 202 weapons, including guns, tasers, and knives. In the 2022-2023 school year, it dropped to 186. This past school year, the district found 166 weapons.
"It was a difficult time coming out of the pandemic. That is where you are seeing a lot of those numbers," said Cazzell.
Last year, a student shot two deans inside East High School during a weapons search. A classmate was shot and killed down the street from campus weeks earlier. Parents were angry, and students demanded to feel safe in school.
DPS changed its policy for weapons searches. Staff don't do it anymore. Now, only trained campus security officers check students. The district also brought back armed school resource officers for its high schools.
"Not just standing guard at the front door," he said. "They are building relationships and making a positive impact."
The number of weapons found on school grounds is going down after a difficult year changed the conversation about safety.
"The marches to the capital and students demand action, that is having an impact. That is having a positive impact of what their peers see and what their peers realize is not appropriate behavior," Cazzell said.
There could be a measure on the ballot this November that would help pay for projects at Denver Public Schools, including adding metal detectors to campuses that request them. The school board is reviewing that proposal, and they will vote on it in August.
On Thursday, Superintendent Alex Marrero gave an update on the discipline matrix to the school board. It's the chart DPS staff follow to know what discipline comes with certain conduct, such as bringing a weapon on school grounds. A district spokesperson said DPS reevaluated the matrix to make it easier for staff to understand and follow.
The discipline matrix does not kick in if a student commits a violent crime off school grounds, and the incident is not connected to the school.
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