USD 501 leaders respond to 49 investigation
8:17 p.m. Tuesday, May 1, 2007
"We're going to need to certainly enhance what we're doing after watching your story and hearing some of the answers that the district gave, I think our patrons will expect better and we can give that to them," school board member-elect Patrick Woods said.
We went to district administrators several weeks ago and asked them how they handle security in their schools.
"As for particular drills on what to do if an intruder comes in, we don't do that with the students. Again, that's teachers and principals are aware of it, but we don't do a drill like we would with a fire drill," USD 501 spokesman Ron Harbaugh said. "I don't know that you want to overly scare the students."
After the Virginia Tech massacre, we went back and asked them if they plan to change anything.
"I think our security plans probably won't change that much. They've been in place for some time and the teachers and staff, the principals all know what to do in the various situations," Harbaugh said.
We found most other area schools do include children in intruder drills.
Incoming board member Patrick Woods said he's confident in the safety of students in Topeka schools, but will push the district to do what the experts say and hold intruder drills.
He said student safety will be his number one priority when he takes office July 1.
"There can be no hesitation when it comes to the safety of our students and teachers," Woods said.
Topeka school administrators have planned a news conference for Wednesday afternoon, in response to our investigation, where they will further discuss their preparation plans with us.
Topeka School Security Investigation
- What school safety drills, or the lack thereof, could mean to your student (April 29, 2007)
- Safety expert: Kansas administrators shortsighted (April 30, 2007)
- USD 501 leaders respond to 49 investigation (May 1, 2007)
- School officials retracting statements from 49 News investigation (May 2, 2007)
- Governor addressing gaps in school safety (June 8, 2007)
- Police practice responding to active shooters (June 21, 2007)
- Local schools beef up security (August 16, 2007)
- Task force recommends school safety improvements (September 10, 2007)
- Homeland Security checking Topeka schools (September 12, 2007)
- Homeland Security starts tour of USD 501 schools (September 19, 2007)
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