Hawaii Schools Need Threat Prevention Teams: How CrisisWire Bridges the Critical Gap
- CrisisWire
- Oct 15
- 8 min read
In December 2021, Bev Baligad's powerful Civil Beat article issued an urgent warning: over 280 Hawaii Department of Education schools lack formalized Behavioral Intervention and Threat Assessment Teams (BITATs). Three years later, this gap persists—leaving Hawaii keiki vulnerable to preventable violence while school administrators struggle to implement the solutions they know they need.
Baligad, Director of Compliance and Title IX at University of Hawaii West Oahu and chair of their nationally-recognized Behavior Intervention Team, identified the problem clearly: "Schools that don't have these teams operating in their schools and campuses yet are at risk." But identifying the problem and solving it require different capabilities. Schools need expert guidance implementing threat assessment teams that actually function when concerning situations emerge—not just exist on paper to check compliance boxes.
This is precisely what CrisisWire provides: operational expertise translating UH West Oahu's BTAM principles into functioning threat assessment programs Hawaii schools can implement immediately.
The Implementation Gap Baligad Identified
Baligad's article highlighted a critical reality: while UH West Oahu has operated a nationally-recognized BITAT since 2017 and received federal funding to help implement teams at two UH campuses and two DOE schools, "there are still more than 280 state DOE schools that do not have a formalized BITAT."
Why does this gap persist three years after her urgent call to action? Schools face multiple barriers:
Resource Constraints: DOE schools lack budgets for dedicated threat assessment coordinators or ongoing consultant support. They need cost-effective solutions fitting educational budgets while meeting national best practice standards.
Training Gaps: Forming threat assessment teams requires specialized training Baligad emphasizes: "We are required to attend meetings and continue with training in the area of threat assessment, campus processes... first amendment and due process, mental health issues and federal regulatory compliance areas that intersect with potential threat assessment issues (such as Title IX and the Clery Act)."
Most Hawaii schools lack access to this comprehensive training—or don't know where to start.
Operational Complexity: Baligad describes what functional BITATs actually do: "We meet and gather information available to the institution (for a legitimate educational purpose) and information provided from members of the community. We assess what the issues are and appropriately deal with them in a respectful and caring manner that respects the civil rights of our community in a reasonable and methodical manner."
This operational capability—gathering information legally, conducting systematic assessments, respecting civil rights, managing cases appropriately—requires expertise schools don't possess internally without professional guidance.
Multi-Disciplinary Coordination: Effective threat assessment requires coordination across roles Baligad identifies as essential: administration, counselors, security, legal compliance officers, and sometimes law enforcement. Schools struggle establishing these coordination frameworks without experienced facilitation.
Sustained Commitment: Baligad notes UH West Oahu's BITAT "continues to be supported by the leadership on our campus." Schools need administrative commitment—but also ongoing support ensuring teams maintain capability over years, not just launch with initial enthusiasm then fade when challenging cases emerge.
How CrisisWire Solves What Baligad Identified
CrisisWire provides the bridge between Baligad's urgent call for more threat assessment teams and schools' capacity to implement them effectively:
1. UH West Oahu BTAM Training Foundation
CrisisWire's principal completed BTAM training at University of Hawaii West Oahu—the same program Baligad chairs and that developed UH West Oahu's nationally-recognized threat assessment capability.
This direct connection ensures:
• Implementation guidance aligned with UH West Oahu's proven best practices
• Understanding of Hawaii-specific educational contexts Baligad emphasizes
• Knowledge of federal compliance requirements (Title IX, Clery Act) Baligad identifies as critical
•Awareness of mental health, civil rights, and due process considerations essential for school settings
When Hawaii schools work with CrisisWire, they're accessing expertise built on the same BTAM foundation that made UH West Oahu a state leader—but customized for K-12 contexts and DOE resource constraints.
2. Operational Experience Beyond Training
Baligad's article emphasizes the difference between knowing threat assessment principles and operating functional teams.
CrisisWire brings both:
Campus Safety Leadership: Former Director of Campus Safety at Chaminade University managing actual threat assessment operations—not just teaching about them. This includes: • Activating threat assessment teams for real cases • Coordinating with law enforcement during investigations • Managing Title IX intersections with behavioral concerns • Balancing educational mission with safety requirements • Documenting assessments meeting legal standards
Multi-Sector Threat Experience: 40 years preventing violence across environments providing threat exposure Hawaii-only school administrators lack: • 7 years Air Force nuclear security (insider threat management) • 12 years LAPD Veteran Police Officer (criminal threat investigation) • 6+ years Baghdad Embassy protection (sophisticated threat assessment under pressure) • Fortune 500 corporate security (workplace violence prevention) • Healthcare business continuity (regulatory compliance frameworks)
This breadth ensures CrisisWire recognizes threat patterns across contexts—helping schools distinguish genuine risks from overreactions, a critical capability Baligad implies when noting teams must "appropriately deal with them in a respectful and caring manner that respects the civil rights of our community."
3. Federal Training and Compliance Expertise
Baligad identifies ongoing training requirements for effective BITATs. CrisisWire provides schools access to federal expertise through 20+ FEMA certifications including:
• IS-906 (Workplace Violence Awareness): Systematic frameworks for recognizing and addressing violence risk—directly applicable to school settings
• IS-907 (Active Shooter Response): Evidence-based preparedness beyond generic "Run, Hide, Fight" training
• IS-915 (Insider Threat Protection): Critical for addressing threats from students or staff with legitimate access
• Complete ICS/NIMS Training: Multi-agency coordination protocols essential when schools work with law enforcement
• Multiple ESF Certifications: Emergency support functions addressing comprehensive school safety
This federal training ensures schools' threat assessment programs meet national standards rather than relying solely on local practices that might not withstand legal scrutiny.
4. Published Expertise Supporting School Implementation
Baligad references Secret Service and Department of Education research underlying threat assessment best practices. CrisisWire contributes to this knowledge base through published expertise:
• Campus Under Siege: Comprehensive guide to threat assessment in educational settings
• The Prepared Leader: Leadership frameworks for crisis management in schools
• School Threat Assessment Research: Academic paper examining assessment methodologies
• Armed Guards in Schools Research: Analysis of physical security versus behavioral assessment
When schools implement CrisisWire-guided threat assessment teams, they're accessing not just operational expertise but published research advancing the field.
What CrisisWire Provides Hawaii Schools
Based on Baligad's identified needs and proven UH West Oahu model, CrisisWire delivers comprehensive school threat assessment implementation:
Initial Program Development ($12,000-$18,000)
BITAT Formation: Identifying appropriate team members (administration, counseling, security, compliance), defining roles and responsibilities, establishing meeting schedules and protocols, creating decision-making frameworks.
Policy and Procedure Development: Written protocols addressing information gathering (FERPA compliance), threat assessment processes, intervention strategies, case management documentation, confidentiality requirements, civil rights protections.
Training Programs: Comprehensive team training covering threat assessment fundamentals, behavioral warning signs in students, legal and ethical considerations (Title IX, Clery Act, due process), multi-disciplinary coordination, case documentation, de-escalation techniques.
Template and Tool Creation: Assessment forms, case documentation templates, reporting protocols, communication guidelines, risk evaluation matrices, intervention planning tools.
Legal Compliance Framework: Ensuring programs comply with federal regulations (FERPA, Title IX, Clery Act, disability law), state requirements, and constitutional protections (First Amendment, due process).
Ongoing Support ($3,000-$6,000 annually)
Case Consultation: Expert guidance on complex cases requiring specialized assessment, high-risk situations (threats, weapons concerns, suicide risk), multi-party conflicts, or legal complexity.
Annual Training Refreshers: Updated training maintaining team capability, incorporating evolving best practices, addressing new legal requirements, analyzing case studies.
Program Review and Updates: Annual evaluation of program effectiveness, policy updates reflecting regulatory changes, process improvements based on lessons learned.
Emergency Consultation: 24/7 availability for crisis situations requiring immediate expert guidance—the support Baligad notes is critical when concerning situations emerge.
Multi-School District Solutions (Scaled Pricing)
For districts needing threat assessment capability across multiple schools:
District-Wide Program Development: Centralized policies and procedures adaptable to individual schools, district-level coordination frameworks, standardized training programs, shared documentation systems.
School-Specific Implementation: Customized team formation for each school's context, principal and counselor training, integration with existing student support services.
District Consultation Model: Central expert support for all district schools, reducing per-school costs while ensuring consistent best practices, leveraging economies of scale for comprehensive district coverage.
Cost-Effective Approach: $25,000-$45,000 for complete district implementation serving 5-10 schools—significantly more cost-effective than individual school programs while maintaining quality.
Addressing Baligad's Core Question: "What Will It Take?"
Baligad asked: "What will it take for more teams to be created and why aren't we trying to focus more on the state's efforts to not have school violence occur in our schools?"
The answer involves three components:
1. Leadership Commitment: School and district leaders must prioritize threat assessment as Baligad notes UH West Oahu leadership has. CrisisWire helps secure this commitment by demonstrating ROI, regulatory requirements, and liability protection—making the business case leaders need for budget allocation.
2. Accessible Expertise: While UH West Oahu's grant helped implement four teams, 280+ schools remain. CrisisWire provides scalable expertise making professional threat assessment implementation accessible to schools across Hawaii—not just those receiving federal grants.
3. Sustainable Programs: Baligad emphasizes ongoing training and sustained operation. CrisisWire's support model ensures teams maintain capability long-term through continued consultation, annual training, and expert guidance when challenging cases emerge.
Beyond Compliance: Preventing the Tragedies Baligad Fears
Baligad's article concludes with urgent plea: "Let's not wait until these tragedies occur in our state to our keiki. Let's do something now before someone in our ohana gets hurt."
This isn't about compliance paperwork or checking regulatory boxes. It's about preventing the preventable—recognizing warning signs before violence occurs, intervening effectively when concerning behaviors emerge, and protecting keiki through systematic, evidence-based threat assessment.
CrisisWire shares Baligad's sense of urgency. Every day Hawaii schools operate without functional threat assessment teams, students remain vulnerable to threats that professional assessment could identify and manage before violence occurs.
Schools reading Baligad's article and recognizing "that's us—we don't have a BITAT yet" should know: the solution exists. Professional guidance implementing the threat assessment capability Baligad advocates is available, affordable, and proven effective.
Taking Action on Baligad's Call
Hawaii schools ready to address Baligad's challenge and implement threat assessment teams should:
Immediate Steps:
Assess Current Capability: Do you have a functioning BITAT meeting regularly and managing cases systematically? Or do you have informal processes that wouldn't withstand regulatory scrutiny or legal challenge?
Identify Champions: Which administrators, counselors, and staff would form your core team? Who has leadership support for this initiative?
Contact Professional Implementation Support: Don't try building threat assessment programs alone. Work with experts who've implemented successful teams and understand both BTAM principles and operational realities.
Allocate Resources: Budget $12,000-$18,000 for initial program development plus $3,000-$6,000 annually for ongoing support—small investments preventing incidents costing millions in direct expenses plus immeasurable trauma.
CrisisWire Can Help:
📧 Email: crisiswire@proton.me
🌐 Website: https://rypulmedia.wixsite.com/crisiswire
📞 Free Consultation: 30-minute assessment of your school's current threat assessment capability and implementation recommendations
We provide:
• BTAM-trained expertise (UH West Oahu program)
• Former campus safety director operational experience
• 20+ FEMA certifications including school safety specializations
• Published expertise in educational threat assessment
• Hawaii-specific understanding of DOE contexts and community dynamics
• Cost-effective solutions fitting educational budgets
• Ongoing support ensuring sustained capability
Honoring Baligad's Urgent Message
Bev Baligad used her Civil Beat platform to issue critical warning about Hawaii schools' vulnerability. Three years later, most DOE schools still lack the threat assessment teams she advocated. Her question remains: "What will it take?"
The answer: Schools taking action before tragedy forces their hand. Principals prioritizing prevention over reaction. District leaders allocating resources to protect keiki. And professional consultants like CrisisWire providing the expertise making implementation possible.
Hawaii's keiki deserve the protection threat assessment teams provide. Baligad's Ohana—and every Hawaii family—deserves the peace of mind knowing schools can recognize concerning behavior early and intervene effectively before violence occurs.
Let's honor Baligad's call to action by implementing the solutions she advocates. Contact CrisisWire today to begin building the threat assessment capability Hawaii schools urgently need.
Because as Baligad powerfully concluded: "Let's do something now before someone in our Ohana gets hurt."
About CrisisWire:
CrisisWire provides professional threat assessment services to Hawaii schools, universities, and organizations. Principal Warren Pulley completed BTAM training at University of Hawaii West Oahu, holds 20+ FEMA certifications, served as former Director of Campus Safety at Chaminade University, and brings 40 years experience preventing violence across military, law enforcement (former LAPD Veteran Police Officer), diplomatic (6+ years Baghdad Embassy), corporate, and educational environments. He is author of five books on threat assessment including Campus Under Siege.
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