Minneapolis Public Schools declare district a violence-free zone

MINNEAPOLIS (KMSP) - Minneapolis Public Schools publicly declared their district a violence-free zone on Wednesday.  Interim Superintendent Michael Goar put a stake in the ground at Henry High School with the statement, “Not in our schools.”

The campaign comes after a 15-year-old brought a .38 caliber handgun to Patrick Henry High School on Monday.

MPS spokesperson Dirk Tedmon said the district has had no shootings in their schools and no one has been hurt, “but we’ve seen the symptoms,” he said.  “There have been fights and a weapon incident in one of our schools. We've watched issues arising across the country. So MPS is putting a stop to it, right now.”

Promoting positive learning environments for students begins with ensuring the schools are safe, MPS said. Tedmon said the district’s schools are currently the safest place for kids, and they’re going to keep it that way.

“Alongside families and community partners, MPS is declaring our district to be a weapon-, violence- and gang-free zone. Together, we can let everyone know: Not in our schools,” MPS said in a press release.

Minneapolis Police Department, MPS, and the Mayor's Youth Violence Prevention Blueprint launched an anonymous youth tip-line called "Speak Up Minneapolis" that allows kids to report potential violence including weapons in schools, parks, libraries or other locations.

Youth from across the city can anonymously report these situations using the Speak Up tip-line by calling 1.866.SPEAK.UP or texting MPLS to 847-411.