Pennsylvania Officials Encourage Beefing up Response to School Shootings

April 08—Teachers for years have been instructed to follow one essential course of action in a school shooting scenario: lockdown.

But local emergency management and law enforcement officials are encouraging schools to empower teachers to do more.

Under a new method, teachers would be trained to consider one or more of five possible responses known as ALICE: Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter or Evacuate.

The new approach is a more sophisticated answer to increasing concern about school shootings, said Daniel Blackburn, Cambria County 911 operations supervisor.

"In 10 years, what's changed is that it used to be lockdown only," Blackburn said following a half-day demonstration Tuesday at Richland High School.

"Teachers were instructed to lock the door and get students in a corner. Now, they can take one of several ALICE steps, and it doesn't have to be in that order.

"If it's lockdown, make a fortress.

"Figure out what you can do to defend yourself. Or, if you can get information that it's safe to get out, why not get out? That's what this program is really about."

Though emergency responders and coordinators have organized "active shooter" drills at area school districts during the past few years, Tuesday was the first seminar on ALICE techniques aimed at building school administrators' confidence in the updated response tactics.

If schools adopt the new protocol, Blackburn said, one of the county's five certified ALICE trainers would work with teachers during in-service days.

The tactics could be expanded to other public locations, such as workplaces, shopping areas and churches.

The shooting at Monroeville Mall in February is one indication that active shooter situations remain a threat, Blackburn said.

"It could happen anywhere," he said.

"I'm proud to say that Cambria County's emergency services were already teaching these principles. When we saw the ALICE training, we decided to get certified."

Ligonier Valley School District may be among the next in the region to adopt the ALICE approach, according to the district's assistant elementary principal, Wayne Waugh.

"At first, I was skeptical," Waugh said. "But it does seem like a good plan to put in place for the teachers.

"Not a day goes by anymore that the safety of students isn't in the forefront.

"When I got into this business, I was more worried about teaching them math and reading than I was about saving lives. But we have to be prepared."

Johnstown police Officer Don Hess said newer safety technology isn't a guarantee, either.

"Newer schools do tend to have improved safety and better technology, but look at Sandy Hook (Elementary School in Connecticut)," he said. "That was an affluent community, not a rundown school facility."

ALICE builds on the lockdown concept, he said. Officers would train teachers, who also would have "what-if" discussions with students.

"It's a huge improvement, part of the evolution," Hess said.

"The lockdown program was a good starting point. Unfortunately, the bad guys are evolving, too. We need to stay one step ahead."

Kecia Bal is a reporter for The Tribune-Democrat. Follow her on Twitter at @KeciaBKay