School district crisis plan outlined
10:15 p.m. Thursday, October 4, 2007
The district has made changes to it's crisis intervention plan, two changes in particular.
The first is a Food Service Bio Security Plan, helping to prevent tampering with the schools' food supply. The other, prompted by our investigation, calls for mandatory drills that require schools to differentiate between a typical fire drill and an actual situation where someone might come into a school and want to cause harm.
New board member Patrick Woods is glad the changes have finally been made and was surprised they weren't made way before he arrived.
"I actually didn't know that was an issue with this particular board until the 49 News report," Woods said. "So I was disappointed to find that was the case. But I am extremely happy now, we have made things right. It's time to move on. Our patrons can rest easy knowing that there is nothing more important to us than their students' safety."
In the new lockdown procedure, each school will be required to hold a minimum of two lock-down drills a year.
Each school is required to keep records of the drill, and report back to top administrators at the end of the year.
The lock-down procedure tells teachers what to do if an intruder or gunman is inside or outside the school.
Without getting too far into the specifics, as not to tip off the bad guys, it explains how teachers should lock their doors, as well as when, where and how students should take cover.
It also describes how teachers should keep children calm, including activities they should have students do during a threat.
The plan now officially goes into action, all to help prepare students for what the district hopes never happens.
More on School Security
49 News Crime and Safety Reporter Jesse Fray did a series of investigative reports on how prepared USD 501 students are in the event of a disaster, and they are listed below:
- What school safety drills, or the lack thereof, could mean to your student
- Safety expert: Kansas administrators shortsighted
- USD 501 leaders respond to 49 investigation
- School officials retracting statements from 49 News investigation
- Governor addressing gaps in school safety
- Police practice responding to active shooters
- Local schools beef up security
- Task force recommends school safety improvements
- Homeland Security checking Topeka schools
- Homeland Security starts tour of USD 501 schools
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