OGDEN, Utah (KUTV) -- One parent's concerns posted online about security and transparency from the Ogden School District is garnering attention: hundreds of likes and comments, many from fellow parents concerned about safety at Ben Lomond High School after a deadly shooting took place near campus after school hours on Tuesday.
2News spoke with the parent who is questioning the school district. Brooke Carpenter said the district isn't doing enough. She wants more communication and security from the school.
"As a parent, how are you feeling in the aftermath of that shooting?" 2News asked.
"Uncertain, and I feel like there's a lack of communication with the school," Carpenter said.
She currently has a daughter attending Ben Lomond High School, and another one attending a nearby Junior High. She's also had four other children go through schooling there.
A bomb threat last week, and a fatal shooting near campus Thursday has Carpenter worried for the safety of her daughter. She said in both situations, the school district took hours to let parents know what was happening.
"The time this shooting took place, there were a lot of kids walking home in that area in all the blocks around that shooting. A stray bullet could have hit any of them," Carpenter said.
She added she wants more transparency and honesty from the school: "Schools won't answer the phones. They're not giving us anything but the basic blanket statement of, 'there's counselors available. There's a memorial.' What's keeping our kids safe? When you can tell me that then my kid goes to school, and I feel better about it."
Dr. Ken Trump, president of National School Safety and Security Services, said the key thing for schools in a situation like this where the shooter is still at-large is regular and proactive communication, "to update them on the status of the incident, the investigation, and any potential threats."
While it has been pointed out that the shooting didn't happen on school property or during school hours, "Parents are understandably concerned about safety. What happens in the communities spills over into the schools; what happens in schools spills out into the community," Trump said.
He also said in cases like this, schools should ramp up security around the school: "the police presence around school at arrival, dismissal; in cafeterias during breakfast and lunch; adult supervision on campus so that there's reassurance that there are additional eyes and ears observing kids, interacting with kids, scanning the area surrounding the school and making sure that students are able to come and go in school and around school, to and from school until the identity of the shooter and the resolution of the threat becomes clear."
"But with heightened supervision and not going over the top, taking extreme measures just for the sake of creating security theater," Trump added, "The key is to increase active supervision, maintain some degree of normalcy especially if you don't know if there's a threat or what a threat is, not to overreact, create more anxiety, and to encourage people to come forward within the school community with information so that you can get to the resolution."
Carpenter said her daughter hasn't noticed any increased security.
"How do we know that this isn't somebody that's going back to school everyday. He hasn't been caught, or she; that's going back to school everyday, trying not to blow their cover, and sitting next to my kid in class?" Carpenter asked, "How do we know that kid isn't going to lose it and hurt somebody else? They've already killed one person."
Jer Bates, Director of Communications for Ogden School District, responded to concerns by stating:
"Ogden School District provides regular communication updates to families regarding school safety any time there is an incident that causes concern. We have provided ongoing updates directly to families in the wake of Tuesday's tragic fatality involving a student."Regarding this situation we have reiterated to families the facts that this incident occurred outside of school hours and in the general vicinity of, but blocks away from, the school the victim attended. We have pointed out that when students were targeted with violence, their apparent instinct was to go to the school to seek help and safety.
"We certainly understand that many students, parents and even school employees may be feeling worry and anxiety while the suspect or suspects remain at large. However, we must reiterate that there was never a known threat to students at school and there is no reason to believe there is presently a threat to students at school.
"Ogden School District always collaborates with local law enforcement regarding safety and security planning and operations. Presently, we have a heightened level of communication and activity as the investigation into this crime continues. We know that our community is able to understand why it does not make sense to release detailed information about safety and security strategies and tactics, as that would effectively provide a guide for individuals with malicious intent to circumvent the very measures we have in place.
"We will continue to communicate new and relevant information directly to our families as it becomes available."
2News reached out to the Ogden Police Department for an update to the investigation; we are waiting to hear back. There is no word yet on possible suspects or motive.