1 year since Uvalde: How can schools be prepared for the worst case scenario?
by Mik Olson
This week marks the 1 year anniversary of the tragic Uvalde, Texas shooting, where 19 brave children and 2 teachers lost their lives. While incredibly rare, the growing frequency of school shootings like this across the United States has caused great concern among parents, educators, and policy-makers. Although nobody can completely predict or prevent a violent attack, there are various measures that K-12 schools can take to keep their students and staff as safe as possible.
1. Conduct Routine Security Drills: To prepare the students and staff for an active shooter situation, schools must conduct security drills regularly. This will help them understand what steps they need to take during an emergency. During the drill, the students and staff should be taught how to identify an active shooter, how to protect and evacuate themselves and how to inform police and law enforcement agencies. These drills should also range in variety and frequency as to reduce the risk of a perpetrator gaining familiarity with school security protocol.
2. Control Building Access: To prevent outsiders from entering the school premises easily, make sure to establish proper access control systems. All doors of the school should be locked and visitors should be required to sign in, present their IDs and wear identification badges while visiting. Additionally, having security cameras installed throughout the school can help monitor access and provide necessary surveillance. Some schools have kept in place certain safety protocols in regards to COVID-19 (keeping even parents from roaming school grounds, unless for scheduled meetings) in order to reduce traffic for security reasons.
3. Promote Mental Health Awareness: Many school shootings have occurred due to the troubled mental state of the shooter. Schools must prioritize mental health awareness and provide students with counseling resources when needed. They can collaborate with education departments and community health organizations to provide critical resources to their populations on these issues.
4. Develop a Response Plan: In the unlikely event of a school shooting, having an emergency response plan can significantly reduce risk. You can collaborate with local law enforcement agencies, health departments, and fire departments to prepare and execute such plans when needed. The Nashville Shooting at Covenant School, while an unbearably tragic event, was a phenomenal demonstration of proper active shooter response, both in planning and execution. The Nashville Police Department responded and eliminated the threat in just 14 minutes. This would not have been possible if both Covenant School and local law enforcement did not strategically communicate with one another. In heart-breaking contrast, the Uvalde, Texas shooting is an example of what can happen if there is not a workable response plan in place.
5. Engage Parents and Students: Schools must communicate with parents and students regarding policies, procedures, and emergency plans. Maintaining open communication channels about any school safety concerns can help build awareness and create a sense of community around safety and security.
In closing, while we can’t always predict the next emergency, we can, however, take the necessary steps in preparing ourselves for the worst case scenario. The lives of both students and school staff depend on it.
To stay up-to-date on the latest resources, funding, news, and information regarding campus safety and security, subscribe to our Free E-Newsletter here.
Here at Campus Contingency, we offer our deepest condolences to the Uvalde, Texas families this week.