Over the past several years we have seen a dramatic increase in school violence and school shootings. As the experts analyze these horrific events, it is apparent that we need to do more, not only taking steps in an attempt to prevent the event from occurring but provide training of students and staff on procedures that we all need to survive an active shooter in our schools.

If you look at what has occurred in our schools and colleges throughout the country, it is evident that if an armed intruder wants to get into any school building, there is a good chance that they probably will succeed. The fact is, even though the Barberton School District has taken great steps in the matter of securing in our school buildings, i.e. the hiring of security personnel to monitor our school buildings, installing monitored entry systems and installing hundreds of additional cameras throughout our school buildings, one question still needs to be answered. What if?

In the past schools across the country have answered that question with a method we call Lockdown or Code Red. That system is designed that in the event an unauthorized person enters the school buildings or grounds, a Code Red or Lockdown alert is given, and students and staff are instructed to lock their classroom with lights outs and to hide in a far corner of the classroom, while remaining calm and quiet. This is probably the procedure that you as parents followed some years ago. However does this answer our question? History has shown that Lockdown is a tool that we all should use, but is it the only tool that we should be using? The answer to that can be found by the number of students who have been killed or seriously wounded during school shootings, and students who were shot and killed hiding under a desk or huddled up in a corner of a classroom, library or cafeteria. Can we expect a fully armed person who enters our school buildings; with the intent to do harm to our children, simply leave when they find that the classroom door is locked? Knowing what we know about active shooters in school building and other public places, the answer is NO. They have already made the decision to kill when they armed themselves and entered that building.

Another known fact is that in almost all of the shootings that occur in schools, the shooter usually creates as much carnage as they can in a short period of time and then kill themselves before police even arrive. So, how do we give our students and staff a greater chance of surviving an active shooter? We give them more tools.

Barberton School District has adopted a new policy and procedure that we as well, as experts across the country, believe will increase the chance of survival during an active shooter incident. This new procedure will teach our staff and students the A.L.I.C.E. system. What does this mean? Let me explain. 

In short, using the above ALICE method, we will teach our student and staff in the event an armed intruder/active shooter evades their secure area they;

1. Listen carefully to the location and type of event.

2. Get to and /or remain in a secure area until it is safe to evacuate.

3. Should an armed intruder/active shooter evade their area, apply skills to distract, confuse and gain control.

4. As soon as it is safe to do so, evacuate.

In closing, in NO WAY are we asking or teaching our students or staff to make any attempt to subdue an armed gunman outside of their secure area. However, we will provide them the knowledge that if faced with a life or death situation there are methods that can be applied to greatly enhance their chance of survival. The methods that will be taught in the event they are directly confronted by an armed gunman are:

Training will emphasize that the best way to survive an active shooter is to escape. When that is not possible,being mentally prepared and having been given the authority and ability to act will save lives.