A rendering of the main exterior entry for the new Neenah High School building. PC: Fox 11 Online
FOX CROSSING, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — It’s now been a week since the Neenah school district welcomed students and staff to its new high school, now serviced by a new police department.
School officials say the safety of those inside was top of mind when building it.
The state’s attorney general, along with local law enforcement, gathered at Neenah High School on Tuesday to discuss on-going safety efforts.
A new school year is here and for students and staff at Neenah High School, so is a new place to learn, in a new community.
The new building is in the village of Fox Crossing.
“We want to continue to work together, especially with this beautiful new high school to guarantee that we try to provide the safest environment that we can,” said Fox Crossing Police Chief Scott Blashka.
Being one of the largest high schools in Northeast Wisconsin with over 2,000 students, Blashka says safety is the number one priority. Neenah’s new school has one full time school resource officer who’s part of the Fox Crossing Police Department.
“We did not hire anymore officers, we did a selection process and the rest of the police department is excited in helping out with the new high school in our jurisdiction,” said Blashka.
Fox Crossing Police’s weekly blotter report shows three reports at the high school this past week.
One for a student with a vape. Another for individuals making comments at another student, making her uncomfortable, and one more for a student who threw an apple and hit someone.
All reports were dealt by the school’s resource officer.
“Police officers have been dealing with juveniles forever,” said Blashka. “These aren’t any new type of calls that we’re not dealing with, it’s just in a new building, in a school in our jurisdiction now.”
“It’s a time of year that brings excitement, probably some anxiety about what lies ahead. But it really also should be about learning, and about education and seeing friends,” said Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul.
Kaul says what school should not be about, is worrying about safety concerns.
“When I went to public schools in Wisconsin, I had the luxury of not worrying about safety in our schools, it was not a topic when I was growing up,” said Kaul.
When it comes to road safety at the school, Blashka says traffic in the area is busier. The department is working together to determine tweaks, such as the timing for traffic signal lights.
“Everyday we’re making changes and moving forward in a positive way,” said Blashka.
Students, parents, staff, or any community members can submit a school safety concern or threat through “Speak Up, Speak Out” tip line.
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