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) 

Sgt. Jonathan Wear, SRO Supervisor
Van Buren High School
(479) 474-6821

OFC Stephen Lawrence
Coleman Freshman Academy
(479) 471-3160

OFC George Edelen
Butterfield Trail Middle School
(479) 474-6838

OFC Chase Decroo
Northridge Middle School
(479) 471-3126

OFC Michael Comstock
Central Elementary
(479) 474-7059

OFC Zach Myers
King Elementary
 (479) 474-2661

OFC Dave Passen
Parkview Elementary
(479) 474-8730

OFC Andy Shepherd
Oliver Springs Elementary
(479) 471-3120


OFC Megan Slayton
Rena Elementary
(479) 471-3190


OFC  Robin Kuykendall
Tate Elementary School
(479) 471-3130


OFC Lanty Brake
Izard Center For Learning
(479) 471-3150