On a day meant to highlight safety, it was a worrisome scenario early Tuesday at the secondary school.
In a Facebook posting, the district revealed a bullet was found in a restroom. Its School Resource Officer and the city Police Department were notified by administrators.
Dunkirk Police brought in other law enforcement agencies, including a K-9 trained in weapons detection to conduct a search of the school.
No credible threat was found, the post said, and officers cleared the building.
Later that afternoon, as part of its “Whatever it Takes” initiative, the district welcomed back Don Shomette. The nationally recognized school violence prevention expert addressed families and community members after a Board of education workshop.
Shomette’s “Safe & Loved” presentation highlighted the benefits of a holistic approach to school safety and was directly aligned with the district’s goal to improve the perception of inclusivity and safety within the school community.
“We are ready to do whatever it takes to improve outcomes for our students,” said Dunkirk Superintendent Michael Mansfield. “And it is imperative that Dunkirk students, staff, families, and community members feel safe and welcome in our schools. This event invited family and community voices to the conversation.”
Shomette last visited Dunkirk to address faculty and staff during the district’s opening day activities in September and focused on the importance of sending a strong message of care and concern to students and parents, as well as encouraging greater communication. He reinforced that message on Tuesday.
“If you improve the culture, you improve safety,” Shomette said. “All of us play a role, and we have to blend violence prevention into everything we do.”
Shomette also discussed the power of engagement, compassion, and love in the effort to improve school safety.
“With gratitude and personal relationships we can have the greatest impact on student safety,” he said.
Shomette is a former police officer, school resource officer, therapeutic foster parent, violence prevention expert for the state of Virginia, and served 12 years in the Marine Corps.
