School Safety
Van Buren School District Safety Initiatives
Secure Front Doors
Each school site has a “buzz in” system at the front door. Parents must push a button and face a camera before the front office will unlock the door and grant access into the building.
K-5 Parent Pick Up
At every K-5 building, parents are assigned a car tag that is unique to their particular school. The parent, or the person picking up the student, must have the car tag displayed from the rearview mirror before the school will allow the student to leave with them. Each school will provide parents with more specific information about the procedure at the school site.
Drug Education and Prevention
The Substance Abuse Prevention Program for VBSD is delivered in the context of a comprehensive prevention program that encompasses school instruction and activities, parent involvement, and community support and participation. The foundation of this program is a clearly articulated and consistently enforced policy against substance abuse.
The schools use instruction and activities in a school-based approach. Each of the elementary and secondary schools has a team of specially trained teachers, counselors and administrators committed to the goal of drug-free schools. This team works with the school staff, students, and parents to provide instruction in the prevention of drug abuse.
Each of the three secondary schools has an IMPACT team composed of students who participate in student-led and school-sponsored events that teach important lessons about how fulfilling life can be without drugs.
Tornado Shelters
Several campuses are equipped with a tornado safe room. Please refer to this document for more information: SAFE ROOM RULES
School Resource Officers
In an effort to reduce and eliminate problems facing our young people, VBSD and the Van Buren Police Department have developed a school resource officer program. The program is designed to be an effective method of dealing with drug abuse, juvenile crime and delinquency, and assistance to children that are considered to be "at risk". SRO duties include a variety of educational activities designed to promote a safe and drug free community. Officers also serve as positive role models for VBSD students.
VBSD is proud to employ a school resource officer at every campus.
Van Buren School District School Resource Officers (SROs)
Lt. Chris Ho & Ofc. Andy Shepherd
Van Buren High School
(479) 474-6821
Cpl. Christy Nguyen
Van Buren Freshman Academy
(479) 471-3160
Ofc. Zach Myers
Butterfield Trail Middle School
(479) 474-6838
Sgt. David Passen
Northridge Middle School
(479) 471-3126
Ofc. Elizabeth Smith
Central Elementary
(479) 474-7059
Ofc. Tim Wald
King Elementary
(479) 474-2661
Ofc. Caleb Hardwick
Parkview Elementary
(479) 474-8730
Ofc. Jimm Kirkendall & Ofc. Logan Osman
Oliver Springs Elementary
(479) 471-3120
Cpl. Megan Slayton
Rena Elementary
(479) 471-3190
Ofc. Robin Kuykendall
Tate Elementary School
(479) 471-3130
Ofc. Lanty Brake
Thicksten Center for Learning
(479) 471-3150
