LPOSD hosting 'Student Safety Summit'

SANDPOINT — A growing epidemic regarding drug overdose, mental health, and related safety concerns has been on the rise in the United States, and Idaho is no exception.

That’s why the Lake Pend Oreille School District is attempting to take preventative steps that will ensure the best chances for Bonner County students. One such effort is the district’s new Student Safety Summit, will operate as a parent education forum covering topics like suicide awareness, social media, app trends, sextortion, mental health, ease of access to deadly drugs, and the age of social media.

The program was created to provide parents with the most up-to-date information to protect their children as they navigate modern risks in the community, LPOSD officials said.

“I truly hope every parent in our community is able to attend the parent education forum,” LPOSD Superintendent Dr. Becky Meyer said. “What is accessible to students nowadays has changed dramatically and I want to ensure parents feel prepared with relevant information.”

"Drug overdoses have been on the rise both nationally and in Idaho,” Meyer said. “In 2021, there were more than 100,000 drug overdose deaths recorded in the U.S. in a 12-month period, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This is an increase of 28% from the year prior. These statistics are some of many that have propelled the district toward hosting the summit."

Attendees will have a chance to learn from experts in the field including Lt. Jess Stennett with Idaho State Police; Loni Whiteman, Kootenai County juvenile probation supervisor, and Paul Farina, a recently retired criminal investigator for Idaho Crimes Against Children Task Force. The school district’s counseling team will also facilitate a question-and-answer session.

Stennett, who has worked in law enforcement for over 20 years, has spent the majority of his career investigating drug-related crimes

“I can say without a doubt, fentanyl is the most harmful drug modern society has ever seen,” Stennett said. “The drug consumes those who use it, and leaves nothing but loss and heartache in its wake.”

According to a 2023 Gallup poll, more than half of U.S. teenagers spend four hours — or more — a day on social media apps like TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter).

“When we give our children access to the Internet, we not only give them access to the world, we give the world access to our children,” said Farina.

The event will take place Wednesday, April 17 at 5:30 p.m. at Sandpoint High School. Free dinner and childcare will be provided. 

The Panhandle Health Department is providing funding for this event through the Opioid Recovery Settlement grant.