The school district is implementing new security measures at Jordan High School after a fatal stabbing

SANDY, Utah (KUTV) — The fatal stabbing of a high school student in Jordan is helping spur new school safety improvements.

The boy was allegedly stabbed by another juvenile in August, and now his family’s protests have prompted the Canyons School District to quickly make a series of security improvements at the school.

“I would like to introduce my son, Kian Hamilton,” the victim’s father said.

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At a meeting earlier in October, he presented his high school son’s ashes to the Canyons School District School Board. He and many of the boy’s friends and family are demanding change.

“My son’s murder brought to light the problems of other people in this neighborhood,” the father said.

Although the incident occurred off campus at the Mountain America Expo Center and the person arrested was not a Canyons School District student, the family says other children involved in the event still attend Jordan High.

As the family has been speaking out since the incident in August, the district announced some changes to school safety on Wednesday.

“With the support of the family and friends of a Jordan High School student who tragically passed away in August, we were able to determine how we could make the school safer and more secure for all students,” said Jeff Haney with the district.

Here is the letter sent to parents outlining the new changes:

“In recent weeks, there has been a constructive conversation in our community about the implementation of safety measures at Jordan High, which can greatly assist in our efforts to ensure that our campus is as safe and welcoming as possible for all students.

Please be assured that the safety of our students and staff is one of the Jordan High and Canyons School District’s top priorities, and we will continue to work to change the culture and climate at our school while finalizing plans for a multi-million dollar renovation of our building, which will also include many new security features and improvements.

To keep families informed of progress being made, we are providing a list of student well-being activities at Jordan High here. Please note that this list should not be viewed as an exhaustive list of all safety measures that Jordan High has implemented or will implement as the Canyons District continues to improve facilities, strengthen emergency response practices, and improve the ways in which students and parents can request help with issues related to harassment, abuse or discrimination:

1. To improve surveillance, additional security cameras will be installed immediately on the Jordan High campus, including in the parking lots.
2. Jordan High teachers and staff will receive ongoing training through the Choose Gang Free program.
3. Jordan High School has hired an additional school safety advocate, also known as a classroom monitor, and will also hire an additional student behavior intervention specialist to help strengthen a positive culture at the school.
4. District-level administrators have been directed to carefully review all out-of-district open enrollment student applications for disciplinary history before approving transfers to Canyons County schools. Previously, a student’s discipline history was only reported by parents on the application.
5. There will be an increased police presence at Jordan High School throughout the day and during classes.
6. CSD plans to add enhanced safety features to all schools, including wearable devices that teachers can use to immediately notify law enforcement and administration in emergency situations.
7. Canyons District is reviewing policies governing student discipline.
8. Canyons County will advocate for the Utah State Legislature to revise the Juvenile Justice Reform Act of 2018 to allow for more severe consequences for students who commit crimes and to restore mandatory education laws to require minors to attend school during the day .

Additionally, Jordan High administrators, teachers and support staff will continue to encourage the use of Utah’s confidential SafeUT crisis line. Students can use the mobile app to report anything that makes them feel unsafe. This guidance is also provided to school resource officers.”

Haney said some of these changes were already planned, but calls from the victim’s friends and family made them happen more quickly.

“This is intended to inform the community about how we create and maintain safe, welcoming and prepared schools,” he said.

Hamilton’s family stated that he had no friendly schools during his lifetime.

“The thing is, he’s been bullied since the sixth grade,” his aunt said at the meeting. “The bullying your district allowed.”

KUTV asked Haney about these accusations.

“We want kids to tell us if they don’t feel safe at school,” Haney said.

Haney said the district has a hotline that families can call to report any type of abuse or harassment.

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