GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – The Green Bay school district follows the same active shooter protocols, known as ALICE, that the Michigan high school uses where a shooting killed four students.
“It’s the thing you fear the most when you’re in a school district,” said Chris Collar, safety and security director for Green Bay Public Schools.
After the shooting that took place inside a Michigan high school earlier this week, the way districts respond and react is on Collar’s mind.
“This isn’t something that you don’t think about all the time it’s something that’s always there and we’re hoping we’re prepared for if it happens.”
The district runs at least two safety drills in each building a year to prepare students and staff. At least one drill has to include evacuating everyone to a safe place, away from the schools.
Green Bay Police just went through training with the Fire Department in the Fall to review for active shooter situations.
Lt. Jeff Engelbrecht, the emergency preparedness supervisor for Green Bay Police, tells FOX 11…..
“We look at how we can enhance future performance because unfortunately this isn’t going to be the last time this happens.”
Engelbrecht says training students and staff from inside the building on how to handle these situations is just as equally important as the training first responders do.
“We’re coming, there’s no doubt about it and we’re constantly looking at how to refine our response. There were survivors there that day who did exactly what they were trained to do and because of that training they received and because of their actions, you know just ordinary people acting under extraordinary circumstances and surviving. They should be praised.”
When following the ALICE system, the steps do not need to be followed in order. Which Collar says is important to remember, because all situations are different.
“You don’t have to do the same thing all the time. The teacher’s, the staff, they have the availability to determine the best course of action for them.”
Green Bay Police offer free training for groups on active shooter preparedness. To organize a training session, you can contact Lt. Engelbrecht here.
Comments