School Safety: RC Schools preparing for worst-case scenario

Usually the argument that arises when discussing school violence is that it will never happen here. Small communities somehow feel blocked off from the violence reported on the nightly news ? as if the distance between states will keep them safe. It is now apparent with many that downplaying the possibility of school violence only sets up the situation for disaster. Preparation is now the key to keeping schools safe, and the Rogers City Area Schools are doing their best to keep a vigilant stance against school violence.

SINCE THE violence that unfolded at Columbine, many profiles of the ?school shooter? have been compiled. According to a 2002 study conducted by the U.S. Secret Service and the U.S. Department of Education, there are numerous myths surrounding school violence. The image of a trench coat-wearing, gun-toting male student has been imbedded in the minds of most Americans; however, it is now known that many of the suspects involved in school violence look no different than the student or teacher being violated. The study showed that in many cases, the students who acted out in a violent manner were considered active in sports, school clubs, or other activities. Although people believe school violence happens by someone ?who just snaps,? the truth of the matter is incidents of school violence are rarely impulsive. The study stated attackers had formed an idea, planned an attack, and gathered weapons. Another myth of school violence is that ?no one knew? that an attack was possible; however, the painful truth is someone else usually knows of the idea or plan, but fails to recognize the urgency and danger of the situation.

IN ORDER to help school districts better prepare for times of possible danger, the Youth Services Unit (YSU) of the Mt. Pleasant Police Department compiled a county-wide school plan to direct schools in how to react toward any school violence. Sgt. Doug LaLone, the director of YSU, said the program began with a grant in 1999. ?We received a grant in 1999 and 2000 to put together a county-wide plan,? said LaLone. ?We visited actual school sites where shootings occurred, such as Columbine, and from our research, put together a plan for Isabella County.? After presenting the plan during a conference for school resource officers, LaLone said the need to share the plan to other counties became apparent. ?We?ve had schools call and ask us to come and educate them on what to do in a violent situation,? said LaLone. ?We have been to Rogers City and Posen, and we are reaching other surrounding schools.? LaLone said his unit was very active in the state?s decision to mandate two lock-down drills per school year. ?You have to have a plan that is laid out and practical,? said LaLone, ?long before anything happens.?

THE YSU program conducts in-services in schools, starting first with group discussions. ?We get them (school staff) thinking about what they already have in place, and how they?ll react in the case of violence,? said LaLone. ?We explain everything we follow in Isabella County, and we offer suggestions for schools, such as training law enforcement on how to respond to schools, and using coded cards to assist law enforcement during a lock-down.? LaLone said the purpose of the YSU in-service is to prepare staff for the worst-case scenario, and how to react to promote the safest possible outcome. ?You wouldn?t wait until Friday afternoon to make a game plan for the big football game,? said LaLone. ?It?s the same with school safety ? you have to know what to do well ahead of time.? The YSU in-service, which was conducted in Rogers City the week before school officially started, provides school staff with a mock school shooting. Teachers are shown how to secure doors quickly, and YSU officers shoot off blank ammunition within the building to give an example of the sound, and its affect on reactions. Some teachers act as students, while others demonstrate how they would react as the teacher in charge of a classroom.

ROGERS CITY fifth grade teacher Paula Pietsch said the YSU in-service was very worthwhile, emotionally draining, and an eye-opener to all involved. ?When the reality of the situation hits you, and you knew something was actually happening ? that is what scared me the most,? said Pietsch. ?The most frightening part was the actual sound of gun fire in the hallway ? I was scared and nervous even though I knew it was a mock situation.? Pietsch said the scenario set up by YSU was very realistic, with her classroom the closest to where ?the shooter? entered the building. YSU instructed teachers to shut and lock their classroom doors as quickly as possible, but Pietsch found the key to her classroom door stuck in the lock. ?The s

hooter was right at my door, and I knew at that moment that I was shot ? a victim in my own classroom,? said Pietsch. ?Within seconds of trying to lock my door, the shooter was on me.? The ?students? in Pietsch?s classroom dragged her into the classroom, and continued to barricade the door with desks to keep the shooter out. In the scenario, Pietsch had a classroom of about 20 students. In reality, Pietsch is in charge of 34 fifth grade students. ?(The experience) carries with you,? said Pietsch. ?I now wear my key around my neck and lock my classroom door at all times. It had such an impact on me ? it hit me hard.?

PIETSCH SAID the RC school district is taking certain precautions, such as conducting the YSU in-service, which are solid steps toward vigilance. ?I think there is a lot more that can be done district-wide,? said Pietsch, ?but there have been some good first steps.? Other steps RC schools have taken toward promoting school safety include switching to electronic keys/locks, implementing a security camera system at the high school, keeping classroom doors locked, securing outside doors to school buildings, and following through on suggestions made by YSU. ?The smell of gun powder in the school gave me such an awful feeling, and such a sense of urgency,? said Pietsch. ?It was a real sickening feeling. The sounds and smells were so realistic ? I hope and pray (school violence) never happens here, and I?m going to do my best to keep the students protected.?