Safety Survey

To ensure initial high-level insights are available in advance of the upcoming Safety Forum on Wednesday September 30^th, a market research professional and RH parent (Sarah Weaver) reviewed our survey responses, guiding Google Gemini through a traditional analysis approach.  

The findings that follow are directional. To collect the most input in a 2-day period, RHPFC chose to omit typical classification questions, which would allow us to study how responses varied by audience. Even without these added dimensions, the responses showed some recurring themes which we feel are important to share with the larger Rush-Henrietta community.

What We Heard:

The stakeholders who participated spoke with raw honesty about their heartbreak, frustration, and the real impact these events are having across our schools. Most of all, they shared the daily reality students and staff are facing inside our buildings right now.

This summary organizes the key findings of the survey response under eight core themes that emerged. These themes are listed in exact order from most frequently mentioned to least, using 100% verbatim quotations from survey responses.

Key Themes:

Using an inductive qualitative coding approach, we identified the following key themes, along with their frequency across and within questions:

1. Disciplinary Consequences / Accountability

• What 64% of respondents told us (155 responses): Almost two out of every three responses pointed to a breakdown in discipline. Respondents feel that violent behavior receives little more than a “slap on the wrist,” and offenders are sent right back into the same classrooms. Many voiced deep frustration with restorative justice policies being used for physical attacks and called for clear, non-negotiable expulsions or legal charges.
• The big question: “Why are violent students allowed back in school to hurt others again? Where is the zero-tolerance policy?”
• In your words:

“Lack of discipline and consequences are a direct cause of the fighting and other issues in all of our buildings. Students know that they can ‘get away with’ their behaviors. This leaves the behaved students and staff angry and they feel unsafe.”

— Survey Response #41

2. Acute Trauma, Panic & Anxiety

• What 53% of respondents told us (128 responses): More than half of respondents shared the heavy emotional toll this has taken on students and educators. People described panic attacks, tears before getting on the bus, and kids constantly worrying about what will happen next. Classrooms no longer feel safe, leaving teachers and students to improvise their own defense.
• The big question: “How are you going to help our kids feel safe again so they can actually focus and learn?”
• In your words:

“My child was given a hammer by his teacher to hold to feel safe during this incident. Let that sink in.”

— Survey Response #67

“My child and I are traumatized to a degree by the extended lock in and the lack of clear information afterward… She hid in the corner of a classroom for over 30 minutes worried she could die and was never told ANYTHING about why.”

— Survey Response #315

3. Superintendent & BOE Accountability

• What 40% of respondents told us (98 responses): Four in ten respondents directed their frustration at central district leadership and the Board of Education. Community members expressed a lack of trust in administration, questioned why leadership seemed absent or out of town during the crisis, and criticized spending priorities—such as athletic field projects on the upcoming bond—while basic security remains unresolved.
• The big question: “Why was leadership absent during a crisis, and how will the Board hold administrators accountable for keeping our kids safe?”
• In your words:

“Stop talking. Take action. Mullen and the current BOE have proven time and time again they are not up to the task of handling these situations appropriately.”

— Survey Response #8

4. SRO / Law Enforcement / Patriot Patrol

• What 37% of respondents told us (89 responses): Over a third of respondents feel that school staff cannot handle large-scale altercations alone. People overwhelmingly called for bringing back dedicated School Resource Officers (SROs) from the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, contracting trained security guards, and expanding the Patriot Patrol across hallways and entrances.
• The big question: “When will trained, uniformed security or police officers be brought back to protect our students and staff?”
  
  
• In your words:

“Go back to having a police presence on campus or hire an outside security agency to take care of security at the high school.”

— Survey Response #39

5. Timely & Transparent Incident Comms

• What 37% of respondents told us (89 responses): Respondents are deeply frustrated with how the district shares information during emergencies. People reported waiting over an hour for an email while receiving frantic text messages from students hiding in classrooms. Many criticized vague, sugar-coated district updates and demanded rapid, honest alerts.
• The big question: “Why do we have to find out our school is on lockdown from Facebook and terrified kids instead of from the district?”
• In your words:

“Clearly communicate what happened, not rumors, not generalizations”

— Survey Response #647

“Yes, my daughter was terrified she was going to die with the lack of information given. I was terrified for her and worried something bad was happening that would affect all of the students.”

— Survey Response #669

6. Flight from District (Private/Homeschool)

• What 26% of respondents told us (64 responses): One out of every four respondents stated that they are actively looking at leaving the district. People are touring private schools, registering for homeschooling, or planning to move out of the area because they no longer believe the district can guarantee physical safety.
• The big question: “Why should we stay in this district if you cannot guarantee that kids and staff will come home unharmed?”
• In your words:

“We are considering whether or not to place our child in private school as a result of the events this week as we are concerned about our child becoming a victim of these attacks. We want him to be able to focus on his education without being constantly scared for his safety and well-being.”

— Survey Response #87

7. Access Control / Secondary Doors

• What 25% of respondents told us (60 responses): One-quarter of responses highlighted serious gaps in building perimeter security. Respondents pointed to side and rear doors—especially near the auto shop, loading docks, and athletic wings—that are propped open, left unlocked, or opened from the inside to let suspended or unauthorized individuals enter.
• The big question: “How did a suspended student walk into the building completely unnoticed, and why are all exterior doors not alarmed?”
• In your words:

“That students have been sneaking in the back doors, I believe auto body or mechanics shop since 2010! Nothing has changed since my older children have gone there… New administration, not so much!!”

— Survey Response #590

“The fact that a student is able to leave a classroom to open a side door for a suspended student without anyone knowing is insane. How long until it is students opening doors for others with weapons?”

— Survey Response #40

8. Metal Detectors / Scanners

• What 18% of respondents told us (43 responses): Respondents raised urgent concerns about weapons—including guns, knives, and blades—making their way into school buildings. Community members called for common-sense screening technologies, such as walk-through metal detectors, weapons-detection scanners, or backpack checks at main entry points.
• The big question: “Are we going to wait until someone is killed before we install metal detectors at our school entrances?”
  
  
  
• In your words:

“Metal detectors at the doors also need to be implemented and all exit doors need to be alarmed, openable by teachers with their badges.”

— Survey Response #144

“More security officers, metal detectors at front entrance and students need to turn in phones upon arrival at school… Bathroom monitors and security officers at entry points.”

— Survey Response #638

The Takeaway

The voices across our community are consistent and unmistakable: We care deeply about our students and staff, and we want our schools back. Respondents want clear consequences for violence, trained security protecting the hallways, doors that are locked and monitored, honest communication when crises occur, and support for those carrying fear into classrooms every day.