Schools look at armed-intruder plans

Gentry superintendent asks school board members to review plans and provide suggestions and input

— In the wake of the recent school shooting in Newtown, Conn., school administrators in Gentry continue to work on armed intruder plans to implement at school campuses in the event such plans are ever needed.

The proposed plans which have been submitted to the Gentry School Board for review and suggestions, follow the ALICE acronym: Alert, Lock-down, Inform, Counter and Evacuate.

Gentry superintendent Randy Barrett asked board members on Feb. 25 to review the plans and let him know of any concerns or questions. He also invited them to submit any suggestions they might have for improvements.

Individual versions of an armed intruder plan have been prepared for each campus, with variations in the implementation of some parts of the plan suited for the campus and the age of the children.

Specifics of the plans include directions to follow if an armed intruder is seen on a school campus - calling the school office, 911 and the superintendent’s office.

This initiates an alert being sent out via intercom from the school office and by cell phones to teachers and staff and a lock-down of the campus which includes locking and barricading classroom doors and other areas and preparing to fight off an intruder if one is encountered.

Each campus has designated ways for students and staff to keep informed while in the lock-down stage, which include intercom, cell phones, computers and even color-coded paper on the doors to indicate the status and needs of those inside when other forms of communication are not available.

Though students and staff are not directed to confront the intruder except as a last resort, the plans do direct students and staff to throw things, create distractions and hit, kick, bite and scream if it becomes necessary as an attempt to avoid being easy targets and victims.

“Nobody wants a bunch of third graders to rush a gunman,” Barrett told board members. “It’s a last resort. But I’d rather do that than have them all piled in the corner like a bunch of clay pigeons.”

Evacuation plans and locations for students to meet for each campus are also included in the plans.

Barrett said the final plans will be made available to parents at a parent meeting.

“There are no secrets in the plans,” Barrett said, also indicating that, should a student be the armed intruder, he or she would probably also be aware of school response plans.

Board chairman Jim Barnes asked Barrett to research the cost of installing cameras in the schools and bring cost estimates back to the board.

No action was taken on purchasing and installing video cameras the last time the option was discussed in July of 2011.

The Eagle Observer reported the following in its Aug. 3, 2011, issue:

“Rather than having an architect prepare specifications for sealed bids on a system to provide video surveillance in high traffic areas within the high school, board members chose to hold off and see how new property assessments affect incoming tax money for the school.

“There is no current immediate need for the cameras,” Gentry School District superintendent Randy Barrett said.

“Rough cost estimates for such a system ranged near the $50,000 mark and the district did not have plans to have someone constantly monitor the hall cameras.”

News, Pages 8 on 03/06/2013