Alabama superintendent addresses school safety after Texas school massacre

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) – The elementary faculty bloodbath in Texas is top-of-mind for varsity officers in Alabama, together with state Superintendent Eric Mackey.

The Related Press studies an 18-year-old gunman opened fireplace Tuesday at Robb Elementary Faculty in Uvalde, Texas, killing 19 youngsters and two adults. The killer barricaded himself inside a single classroom and “started taking pictures anybody that was in his method,” authorities mentioned Wednesday

The assault was the deadliest faculty taking pictures within the U.S. since a gunman killed 20 youngsters and 6 adults at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut, in December 2012, based on the AP.

Mackey mentioned communication is essential in conditions like this – the state has been working to enhance faculty security to reply.

“The opposite factor I might say is that we want to verify we’re engaged in security protocols. After the 2018 tragedy in Parkland, Florida, Gov. Ivey convened a secure job drive,” Mackey mentioned. “She made me the chair as state superintendent. We labored with [the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency] and our different companions right here to verify we now have a extremely good plan in place. We had 10 proposals. Virtually all of these proposals had been initiated and funded by the legislature – together with psychological well being counselors.”

He mentioned that the state has safety measures in place to assist forestall one thing like this. He added that they haven’t had any individual try something just like the bloodbath in an Alabama faculty.

“As new faculties are constructed, we’ve made quite a lot of enhancements to the entrances of colleges, together with cameras, together with security locks. Most faculties now have two doorways it’s important to get in via one to get right into a foyer after which get via a second safe doorway. Cameras are very useful and have helped us cease some points, not one like we had in Texas,” Mackey mentioned.

“Luckily, we’ve not had anyone try one thing like that in Alabama faculty, however we now have been capable of catch some issues of safety via using cameras. Entry to campuses, even how individuals can drive and stroll on the campuses, fencing, we’ve had quite a lot of fencing added to our campuses so completely different safety protocols like that. After which the position of [school resource officers]. We’ve had many, many native faculty districts which have labored with the sheriff’s workplace and police division so as to add SROs, or faculty useful resource officers, of their faculties. We should not have a faculty useful resource officer in every faculty. That may be a persevering with dialog,” Mackey added.

Mackey mentioned each faculty is required to have a faculty security plan. The Alabama Division of Training has regional coordinators across the state and performs an annual security coaching in every district.

“Now we have regional coordinators across the state, we do annual security trainings. We’re not going to do this the place it’s definitely advising superintendents and faculty boards. You bought to verify your neighborhood is aware of that you’ve got a plan,” he mentioned.

Mackey encourages mother and father to speak to their youngsters and if they’ve any psychological well being points get them remedy as quickly as doable and alert faculty officers. In all conditions like this – he urges in the event you see one thing suspicious to say one thing.

Copyright 2022 WSFA 12 Information. All rights reserved.