Gunman Plan In Schools

Posted by Barbara Pytel Mar 9, 2008

Cook County's Sheriff Department is giving seminars to school administrators on what to do in case the school is under siege by someone with a gun. Detective Robert Carroll says, "You are far less likely as a student to die as a victim of fire than you are of violence."

The seminar did not give schools specific instructions on how to safeguard students but it did emphasize that schools need to have a plan customized to each classroom within the school.

Many schools are doing the following to improve safety:

• Steel doors, not wood
• Doors lock from inside the classroom
• Public address systems for all-calls
• Designate a window for evacuation
• Select a safe spot for students to gather in the classroom
• Telephone in each classroom
• Keep outside doors locked

Gregory Jaglowski, anti-terrorism director for Cook County, stated, "since 2000 there have been over 150 shootings in schools, over 60 deaths, and it's just much too often that it's happening. The big thing is to have a plan."

Source: Patrycja Malinowska, Chicago Sun-Times

Read previous articles on Educational Issues.

Copyright article 2008 Barbara Pytel. All Rights Reserved.