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Yost Points to Stark County Success in School Threat Assessment Training

photo of dave yost
ANDY CHOW
/
STATEHOUSE NEWS BUREAU
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost talks about a training program meant to recognize threats of school violence.

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost is rolling out a new training program geared towards teaching law enforcement and officials how to assess potential risks of violence at schools.

The Ohio School Threat Assessment Training is a 3-hour course available for free to anyone who wants to learn more about preventing school violence.

The assessment should help teachers, school administrators, and law enforcement identify people of concern, assess their risk of violence or harm, and create intervention strategies.

Yost says subtle changes in a student's behavior can be a warning sign, and this training program is meant to help people recognize those subtleties.

"But also to bring a lot of different viewpoints into the threat assessment team," Yost said.

Stark County officials, who have implemented these guidelines, say they have seen success in reaching a student before they carry out harm to themselves or others.

Andy Chow is a general assignment state government reporter who focuses on environmental, energy, agriculture, and education-related issues. He started his journalism career as an associate producer with ABC 6/FOX 28 in Columbus before becoming a producer with WBNS 10TV.