Officials discuss Gibault concerns

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - Gibault Children's Services in Terre Haute comes to an agreement with its neighbors.

Over the last month, four teens have walked away from the Gibault campus.

One incident even led to a physical assault.
     
It left those at and around the campus concerned.

Thursday, all sides said they walked away with a better understanding.
     
In an invitation only meeting, Gibault officials, Vigo County law enforcement, Indiana State Police, and area neighborhood representatives met at the Vigo County School Cooperation building.
     
They discussed their concerns regarding the walk-aways, and they also drew up some plans for improvement. Many of them are still under works, but here's what all sides would like to see happen.

• More visible patrolling from the Vigo County Sheriff's department on the campus.
• Quicker response times from law enforcement
• A notification system alerting nearby schools and neighborhoods whenever a walk off occurs.

They also discussed licensing off-duty officers to help with the patrolling.
     
Officials who attended the meeting agreed that it concluded with everyone having a better understanding of the situation.

"We agree that it is a community concern. I live in the community. Gibault is part of the community, and we want to work with everybody that has concerns," Michelle Madley from Gibault Children Services.

"With that type of attitude that has changed, we're all going to be able to work through this and move, make progress and we hope to meet again in the next 30 days or so to try to see what progress we've made," Kaleel Ellis from Richland Manor said.  

Gibault is not affiliated with the Vigo County School Corporation. Vigo County hosted the meeting due to the campus' close proximity to two of their schools.