Billings schools plan new safety steps after Senior High stabbing

Billings Public Schools are preparing new safety measures following a stabbing at Billings Senior High School. The incident, which occurred after school on Jan. 13, involved a teacher and a student. No felony charges resulted from the event.

Superintendent Dr. Erwin Garcia stated the district is prioritizing mental health resources and counseling for students. He noted that federal and state grants will help fund these efforts. Garcia said there were 79 reports of student aggression toward teachers during the 2025 to 2026 school year. He argued that community support is a root cause of many issues.

“What causes a child to come to school to harm someone? Well, we can make a connection to the community in general. What is the most frequent crime in Billings, Montana? Domestic abuse,” Garcia said. “How can you quantify the impact of a counselor, right? The real power really is that support for kids, that is really a root cause.”

The district has also applied for a federal grant worth approximately $250,000. The funds would pay for screens that provide visual emergency alerts in large spaces like high school gyms. Garcia explained that intercom systems are often inaudible in those areas. The screens would display instructions such as shelter in place.

Physical security changes are already in place at Senior High. The school has reduced the number of accessible entrances. Police officers now have access cards to enter the building more quickly. They also have access to the school’s radio communication system.

A new safety committee will review further options. The group includes five teachers and five administrators. Billings Education Association President Lance Edward said the committee will gather input from staff who work in the schools daily. Edward was speaking while standing at a picket line outside Senior High. Teachers and students held signs demanding improved safety.

Surveillance cameras remain a point of discussion. Most district schools have cameras in hallways and outside buildings, but none have cameras inside classrooms. Former Billings Police Chief Rich St. John said in May that the lack of video footage created challenges during the stabbing investigation. “The evidence that we usually end up finding, videos, eyewitnesses, some other circumstantial things have not been there,” St. John said. Edward noted that privacy issues make classroom cameras complicated. Garcia said expanding the camera system district-wide would cost tens of millions of dollars. The district attempted to pass two levies totaling $5 million for cameras in 2024, but voters rejected both.