Preparedness versus trauma? The debate continues across many school districts over the benefit of active shooter exercises. Today, more administrators are lining up to accept these drills as the new reality; better to be prepared than suffer a tragedy.
In Michigan, schools are required to perform three emergency lockdown drills a year; the result of two pieces of legislation signed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm in 2006. A bill (HB 5848) introduced last year that would require annual drills specifically dealing with active shootings is currently stalled in committee. Training connected with this bill would be jointly developed by the Michigan Department of Education and State Police.
In Illinois, state government amended the School Safety Drill Act to require all schools in Illinois to conduct at least one (1) annual active shooter or active threat drill, effective January 1, 2019. The drill must occur within 90 days after the first day of each school year, meaning the 2019-2020 school year.
This act previously allowed drills to be conducted on days and times when students were not present in the school building. Following the amendment, the act now requires active shooter drills to be conducted on days and times when students are typically present in the school building, and the drills must involve participation from all personnel and students present at the school at the time of the drill.
Additionally, the act allows administrators or school support personnel to exempt students from participation in the drill. Finally, the act now provides that the appropriate local law enforcement agency must observe administration of the drill.
Training now includes multiple responses
Experts believe that active shooter lockdown drills and practicing emergency response procedures can reduce anxiety and safety risks. These activities build student’s and adult’s confidence in knowing what to do in an emergency
“It’s all about preparation. I think the drills are very important for students, teachers, law enforcement, and all first-responders.” says Bill Cousins, a school security consultant for Sonitrol Great Lakes. In 2017, Sonitrol Great Lakes partnered with Cousins, a 30-year law enforcement veteran, to offer school designers and administrators the services of a specialized security consultant.
Among his suggestions, Cousins advises schools to invite local police departments and other first-responders to tour school properties in order to familiarize themselves with the campus layout prior to the exercises.
School safety planners must tailor simulations to participant’s developmental maturity, psychological history, prior traumatic experiences, and special needs, says Cathy Paine, crisis response team lead for the National Association of School Psychologists. Cousins says he agrees with Paine’s opinion that “exercises should be geared to the maturity level of the students.”
Active shooter drills teach students and staff to hunker down in a room and remain quiet and out of sight. Today’s options-based, school safety drills permit a range of actions to potentially save lives, Paine says.
Depending on the situation, evacuating, barricading a room or attacking the assailant are all appropriate responses. “When we’re training, it’s important that we emphasize the fact that the drill has three parts—particularly if you’re an adult or a high schooler—which are to run, hide or fight,” Paine says. Cousins suggests schools partner with law enforcement to offer ALICE training, a strategy which goes beyond the conventional school lockdowns.
The National Association of School Psychologists and the National Association of School Resource Officers offer guidance on armed assailant training. Their report, “Best Practice Considerations for Schools in Active Shooter and Other Armed Assailant Drills,” recommends procedures for safe and effective drills.
Eight active shooter drill steps:
1. Create a school safety team. Include an administrator, school mental health professional, school nurse and security personnel, as well as teachers and parents. The team also must coordinate with local law enforcement and emergency responders.
2. Identify risks by conducting a needs assessment of the school community.
3. Implement a cost-benefit analysis that considers all emergency preparedness needs and options.
4. Tailor drills based on age and grade level. Also consider developmental maturity, prior traumatic experiences and special needs.
5. Create a plan of progression that builds on the simplest, lowest-cost training. The plan also should identify obstacles and goals, as well as establishing a timeline.
6. Prepare drills that ensure physical as well as psychological safety. Drills should also emphasize skills and knowledge acquisition.
7. Develop a communications plan that includes giving all participants advanced warning. Also provide participants the ability to opt out and/or provide feedback.
8. To support sustainability, establish a long-term follow-up plan that also covers ongoing training needs.