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Dozens of students on pat down policy 1 year after shooting at East High

A records request last March showed 41 DPS students needed to be patted down in about 30 schools. One year later it was 34 students.

DENVER — This week marks one year since the tragedy at Denver's East High School. A student shot two administrators during a routine pat down for weapons. The student ended his life after an hours-long search by police. 

One year later dozens of students are still required to be patted down. A records request in March 2023 showed 41 DPS students needed to be patted down in 29 schools. In February 2024, the number was pretty close - 34 students. The district said kids can be searched for various reasons as part of a safety plan - from drugs to weapons. 

"I think a lot of us were stunned to know what was happening in our schools," said Heather Lamm whose son was a senior at East High last year. "I don't think any of us knew about the pat down policy before a year ago (Friday)."

Since last year the school district has changed its policy on searches. Staff no longer pat students down for weapons. That's now supposed to be handled by armed district patrol officers, according to this DPS report

"At its core, it means we are still doing pat downs of kids that are in a general population who have had weapons violations or have reason to believe they are putting other kids at risk," Lamm said. 

If the search is for vape pens or drugs, then a school administrator could conduct that search. School Resource Officers, unlike district patrol officers, can only conduct searches if it is part of an active criminal investigation.

Lynne Lee's son is a freshman at East High School. She feels a little better about her son's safety than she did at the beginning of the school year. 

"That is a good step but we need to understand the consequences of the actions DPS is going to take once a weapon is found," she said. 

She wants to see changes in how kids are disciplined if they do bring a weapon to school. 

The district is still working on those updates. The Discipline Matrix Committee had six sessions between October and December 2023. 

A revised Discipline Matrix is expected later this spring, according to Superintendent Dr. Alex Marrero's State of the District update in February.

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