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soxfan7
Member
35 Posts |
 Posted - 02/02/2007 : 12:25:46 PM
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As requested off different subject....
My kids go to different schools, but the letters sent out this week are the same exact format:
Dear Parent/Guardian,
Early in the month of February 2007, all Everett Public Schools will be participating in a series of activities that are meant to further enhance the protection ofour students and staff. These procedures are called Lockout and Lockdown.
A LOCKOUT is a safety practice that takes place when a situation that may be dangerous, occurs near the school, somewhere in our community. There is no immediate threat to our students, but it is safer for students to remain indoors and for the school to restrict the comings and goings of everyone. During this procedure, no one is allowed in or out of the school. If you, a parent, arrive at the school while a lockout is in effect, you will not be allowed into the school until the activity has ended.
A LOCKDOWN, a more significant event, means that there is an immediate threat; there is a problem inside the school. During a Lockdown, classroom doors are locked and students must remain in their classrooms, behind locked doors. Students are not allowed outside the room for any reason. Police and Fire Department staff are called to the scene. If you, a parent, arrive at the school while a lockdown is in effect, you will not be allowed in or near the school until the activity has ended. You will be directed to a place away from the school where information will be made available to you.
While we sincerely wish that no event causes us to enact these precautions, we feel that practicing these procedures, just as we practice fire drills, prepares our students and staff to react appropriately in case of an emergency, making our school safer for students and staff.
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massdee
Moderator
5299 Posts |
Posted - 02/02/2007 : 12:46:24 PM
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| I am glad they are putting programs in place to help keep our students safe. Isn't it sad it has come to this? |
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concernedcitizen
Member
3 Posts |
Posted - 02/02/2007 : 1:56:11 PM
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| Adn when the kid is in the bathroom or the hallway during a lock in, they will be locked out of their classrooms and be locked into the hallways. |
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Lynda
Advanced Member
1282 Posts |
Posted - 02/02/2007 : 3:09:16 PM
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| Thanks soxfan. My son did come home with this letter today. It is scary that our children have to be taught this. This will be enough to scare the crap out of him. And what about this bathroom situation? Has anyone addressed this as of yet? |
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Fran
Senior Member
250 Posts |
Posted - 02/02/2007 : 3:32:36 PM
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| If a kid is in the hallway or bathroom the areas will be swept and the kid pulled into the closest classroom. |
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Lynda
Advanced Member
1282 Posts |
Posted - 02/08/2007 : 11:46:37 AM
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| This is the Pitts! My high schooler said that they started assemblies on this. She was scared and she is a teenager (and as you know they thing that they are indestructible) can you imagine when they start the drills at the elementary level? |
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Citizen Kane
Advanced Member
1082 Posts |
Posted - 02/08/2007 : 12:16:48 PM
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| It is sad that it has come to this, but doesn't this also raise the question of daily access to the schools? For the "lockout" situation it states, "There is no immediate threat to our students, but it is safer for students to remain indoors and for the school to restrict the comings and goings of everyone." Don't they restrict the comings and goings of everyone now -- is there no sign in system in the schools? Isn't there a standard process in place where someone has to ring the bell, and school personnel (not students) answer the doors and escort all visitors to the office to sign in and require them to sign out? |
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Lynda
Advanced Member
1282 Posts |
Posted - 02/08/2007 : 12:25:45 PM
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NOPE!
Not at all. I had my daughter dismissed just last week and I walked right in, went to the office told them I needed my daughter dismissed, they called her, she came down, we left. I never even had to sign anything. I thought there would have been a person either stationed at the door, walking around, even at a set up desk doing paper work, something. BUT there was no one anywhere. I just walked in without anyone asking what I was doing there. I think I look young for my age but a High Schooler, NO WAY! |
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Citizen Kane
Advanced Member
1082 Posts |
Posted - 02/08/2007 : 4:09:56 PM
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| That's just crazy . . . |
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Lynda
Advanced Member
1282 Posts |
Posted - 02/09/2007 : 09:35:33 AM
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| It is crazy, and THAT to me is what is Scary. From what I understand the doors are not equipped to lock from the inside. |
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massdee
Moderator
5299 Posts |
Posted - 02/09/2007 : 09:56:50 AM
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| I listened to them talk about this issue Monday night at the School Committee meeting. They have it pretty much covered what to do if they have an incident up there. They have absolutely nothing in place to prevent an incident. As usual, another half a**ed program. |
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Lynda
Advanced Member
1282 Posts |
Posted - 02/09/2007 : 12:20:40 PM
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How can you say they have it covered. The kids are told to close the shades and crouch down in front of the chalk boards???? Why? will that make it easier for the gun men (God Forbid) to just go down the line and shot them? I told my kids to do as EverettPride told hers... when told to close the shades JUMP out! Better a broken leg than MUCH worse.
This is what they were told to do at the High School anyway. |
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massdee
Moderator
5299 Posts |
Posted - 02/09/2007 : 12:35:38 PM
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| I didn't know that Lynda, they seemed to forget to mention that part at the School Committee. You are right, I should have known better. |
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Lynda
Advanced Member
1282 Posts |
Posted - 02/09/2007 : 12:46:44 PM
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Of course they did. This is what the children at the High School were told to do in the event of a intruder.
Do you believe it? Nice! |
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massdee
Moderator
5299 Posts |
Posted - 02/09/2007 : 1:06:17 PM
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| I wonder what other communities have in place? Maybe the School Committee should look into those communities that have gone through a tragedy. They would know best how to handle these situations. Isn't it awful that you even have to think about this kind of thing happening to our children. |
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School Lockout/Lockdown letter to parents
