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BMS and BHS Staffs Experience Active Shooter Training to Ensure Safe Schools

By Trina Runner on August 30, 2019 via Connect-Bridgeport.com

The day before students return to school is generally filled with last minute touches on room preparation, staff meetings, and collaborative planning.  This year, the faculty and staff of Bridgeport Middle School and Bridgeport High School underwent a very different, although critical, experience.
 
Active Shooter Training was conducted at both schools last Friday morning, presented by local, county, state and federal law enforcement agencies.  Ken Winkie, Director of Safety and Discipline for Harrison County Schools, coordinates the training, which rotates on a three-year basis to all schools in the county.
 
The current students of BHS and BMS have lived their entire lives with the knowledge of gun violence in schools.  With 2018 ranking as the highest in school gun violence incidents in history and 22 incidents already in 2019, Harrison County Schools wants to ensure the community that staff, faculty, counselors, administration and prevention resource officers are making every effort to keep schools safe.
 
The Active Shooting Training featured FBI Special Agent Jim Wisniewski, along with other law enforcement agencies, educating the staff about protocol in the event of an incident. Although the training is now state mandated, Harrison County Schools has been training employees for nearly five years in order to provide a safe learning environment for the students.
 
After analyzing school shootings from around the country and the protocols practiced in prior drills in Harrison County, the law enforcement officers continue to improve procedures and communication in order to make sure visitors are properly vetted, educators are aware of their surroundings and buildings are updated with safety measures.  
 
Special Agent Wisniewski stressed that a potential shooter could be anyone and gave first-hand accounts of national cases which he has investigated and how the safety protocols continue to change in order to accommodate different schools and situations.
 
Harrison County’s procedures include Code Red lockdowns, creating barriers and having safety devices on doors and windows.  In the event of an incident, students and staff would be moved to an undisclosed location after the site is secured and professionals such as nurses, psychologists and counselors will be wearing color-coded vests in order to best serve the student population and minimize trauma.  An orderly system to account for students has been put into place and all school nurses have been equipped with emergency bags containing student medicine they may need during the evacuation.
 
“During the incidents, both those who are affected and the first responders have tunnel vision,” said Wisniewski.  “It is imperative that information conveyed to first responders be concise and accurate and that when the school is evacuated, all hands are in the air with fingers spread to ensure the safety of everyone.”
 
Teachers were encouraged to get comfortable making sure their doors were securely locked without having to re-enter hallways and to prepare props that could be thrown at the shooter to distract them and buy time.  They were also instructed on how to communicate with a potential shooter, control chaos, and inform law enforcement and administration during an incident.  A critical part of the process involved making connections with students and encouraging them to report any suspicious activity. 
 
“I am a big fan of ‘See Something, Say Something,’” said Wisniewski.  “Social media is not the place to share the information so we encourage students and staff to report directly to law enforcement and administration.”
 
After the initial safety briefing, staff reported to their rooms for a more impactful training.  Law enforcement shot a 22, 9 mm, rifle and shotgun from various locations within the building in order to demonstrate what sounds a teacher might hear in an active shooter incident.  Depending on the location of the shooting, some parts of the building may not even hear the gunfire, so communication is vital during an incident.  
 
“I couldn’t hear it until it was practically right outside my door,” said Casey King.  “It made my stomach drop.”
 
Other teachers expressed sadness that this kind of drill is even necessary.
 
“It’s unfortunate that we have to have to consider this when we are gearing up for the start of school and so excited to meet our students,” said Jennifer Cole.  “I am glad, however, that the county prepares us for this, although it does make me very anxious.”
 
The debriefing afterwards gave the staff an opportunity to ask questions and get clarifications on specific matters.  Officer Jamie Hamrick attended a training this summer where the Principal of Columbine spoke and she shared some of the triggers that happen after the incidents and how the after-care teams would be available in case this ever happened here. 
 
“We are completely committed to ensuring student safety in our buildings and will make every precaution to safeguard the lives of the staff and students,” said BHS Principal Matt Demotto.  
 
BMS Principal David Mazza also commented on the importance of this training.
 
“I truly believe that Harrison County Schools and Ken Winkie are making every effort to ensure the safety of all our students and I appreciate the collaborative efforts with the law enforcement teams in making this training happen,” said Mazza. 
 
Ken WInkie will be following up with a team of professionals trained in triage next month with “Stop the Bleed” training.  Many fatalities during a school shooting happen because of bystanders who don’t know how to treat those who have been shot.  This training will provide classroom kits and basic instructions for reducing harm.
 
 


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