Local schools react to shooting
Districts taking another look at procedures
In the wake of Wednesday’s shooting at a Florida high school that left at least 17 people dead, Porterville area school districts are taking steps to ensure they are prepared should such a tragedy take place at one of their sites.
“As a result of the Florida event, we are reviewing our lockdown procedures with our principals to make sure that classrooms are locked so that if there is an intruder they cannot access our classrooms,” said Burton School District Superintendent Sharon Kamberg.
There have been 17 incidents of gunfire at an American school already this year.
“It’s alarming, and one time is too many. We do have routine lockdown drills, but even in instances like the one in Florida, there’s no way any procedure they did would have prevented this from happening,” said Kamberg. “What we really emphasize with our staff is that once something starts, it’s our reaction and what we do [that’s important]. We practice procedures to make sure that every kid knows what to do, and that every staff member and principal has a level head when they get into a crisis mode. These incidents like the one in Florida just provide us with another opportunity to review what we want them to do and how that looks.”
Every staff member, including the maintenance department, Kamberg added.
“We’re talking with our maintenance department about walking every campus with a principal and a vice principal to ensure that we look at the differences in campuses and where there are potential dangers created either by facilities or structures, going through ‘what if’ scenarios.”
Burton like many school districts also the
ability to disseminate information to parents during a crisis. BSD has a district app available on digital media and cell phones that enables them to contact parents with immediate information about emergencies involving their students.
“Our parents will know instantly how to support the lockdown and if it’s serious, and where student pickup is,” said Kamberg.
Last month Porterville Unified School District held an active shooter drill on the campus of Porterville High School with 100 students from its health academy pathway
and 40 emergency response personnel in an effort to prepare for such an incident on their campus.
Local reaction To see what Porterville residents think about the recent school shootings, The Recorder posed the following question on its Facebook page: In the wake of the Florida school shooting, we are wondering how you feel about what happened? Are schools safe? What needs to change?
Here are some of the responses:
Esmeralda Valadez said, “I feel like schools should have wire fences
all around and only entrances would be by metal detectors and sniffing K-9s. Our children aren’t safe and it’s up to us adults to step it up and protect them.”
Heriberto Rangel said, “Schools should hire exmilitary and law enforcement as security guards and armed. At least two on opposite side of the school. Or depending on school population and size for needing more. Solved the veteran work crisis.”
Rob Nin said, “I think troubled youth who have red flags like this man in Florida had who posted photos of himself with guns and threatening
people should have caught the attention of local law enforcement. Had this guy been investigated and dealt with properly he may have not been able to commit the crimes.
“The only way to truly snuff the situation is to start recognizing and addressing the mentally unstable people who are determined to cause harm to others. It’s not fair for law-abiding citizens to fear the safety of their lives from that of people incapable of doing the same.”
Casey Garfield said, “Why is it always stricter gun laws that gets addressed? Why aren’t we
addressing the fact that every single shooter has a history of mental illness? It’s time we start focusing on the bigger issue. Stricter gun laws won’t keep people who are mentally unstable from committing these horrific acts.”
At least 21 people have been killed and more than 19 injured in recent school shootings.
Of the 17 incidents, one involved a suicide, two involved active shooters who killed students, two involved people killed in fights and three involved people who were shot but survived. Nine involved no injuries at all.