B - Active shooter.
Fire and bomb threat should be handled the same way....a neat and orderly evacuation and an accounting of all students and faculty. This is a no brainer yet seems to have eluded school administrators during recent events here in Wicomico County. Schools, law enforcement, Emergency Management, and local politicians should be coming together to conduct threat assessments and develop a protocol for each threat. While the idea may strike many as common sense, the necessary steps to open dialogue on this issue doesn't seem to have taken place.
What seems to be the problem? Why hasn't this been done? I have consulted with both school and local governments in the past as they put together such protocols and the bottleneck always seems to be the same thing. Money. I was told once by a Town Manager that their town would not put a price on the lives of it's employees when it came to offering adequate protection and putting safeguards and policies in place to protect them. Due to past experiences I knew better. In less than a day I was hearing things such as "Wow it would cost a lot of money to change that" which ultimately, and without exception leads to "Do we really need to do these things? What is the likelihood that this would ever happen here?". My response has always been "You asked me to assess and suggest. Whether or not you take the suggestions is your decision". Money has always been and will continue to be the deciding factor when it comes to the safety of our children. Employees will not show up for mandatory training without being paid. The glass company will not install impact resistant glass without being paid. Alarm systems on rooms containing chlorine tanks in water treatment facilities will not be installed without paying the alarm company to install and monitor.
These things cost money. Money which is controlled by elected officials as they approve budgets submitted by agency heads. You can't blame a Sheriff or Police Chief if they present a budget for a bomb dog or additional training in these areas and these budget requests are cut. At the same time you can't blame your council if the requests aren't made. You can be sure that every request will be met with the same question - "What are the chances that it will happen here?" and my favorite comment "The chances of that happening here are almost zero". This is almost identical to the comment made by the chief of police in Sandyhook one week before the horrific event which took place on December 14, 2012. It's a gamble that weighs the likelihood of a mass casualty incident happening in your area against the safety and security of your community.
The first step in creating a protocol for responses to critical incidents is to put together an action team comprised of members of law enforcement (any that would be responding in your area), fire departments/EMS, schools - including colleges in your area, someone from FEMA or someone certified by FEMA/MEMA, Someone from local hospitals representing the emergency departments and security, and any other entity that may have something to offer.
I would submit that it is the responsibility of every citizen to impress upon their local elected official the importance of the safety of the community and schools and that it is not acceptable to gamble with the lives of our children. This national election has become almost entirely about our security here at home and it is no less important on a local level. It is also the responsibility of each citizen to become aware of the dangers that exist in our world today and I believe that is happening more and more everyday.Your safety and your security is your responsibility. That's probably why there were so many positive responses to the article on this blog about the Maryland CRT.
28 comments:
I'm sure there is enough lard in the BOE budget to assist with some of the costs. Those that won't show up for training unless they are paid will be the first to cry foul should something horrific happen. Money does not have to rule every decision made.
I would like to ask the question, because I honestly don't know the answer. Do these school teachers get paid when they go back to school to meet mandated requirements or further their education?
Agreed. This response was especially inspiring and one that our elected officials and parents in Salisbury should take heed. But also, I may add that there must be good use of common sense when in these crises and that people are ultimately responsible for their own (and children) well-being.
Nothing will be Done period.
As far as the schools go a ton has already been done to make them more secure and no I have no connection to any of them except to have family that attends them. Also I have never known a school employee to get paid extra for anything and there are always extra meetings and work. Most if not all are on salary and expected to perform as much as is needed. One wonders about alarmists.
More likely to have a Sandyhook type nutjob go postal at school on the shore than any so called Muslim terrorists. The eastern shore isn't much better than where they came from, they are looking to live better than that and if they are terrorists, they want to be somewhere that they blend in - not stand out.
One way to put some more money in the coffers is to take away the credit cards from the WBOE and use the money wasted on dinners and other partying (and excursions) they do for the teachers that is unnecessary expenses to taxpayers on something more worthwhile - like security! After all, it's for the kids. Right?!
So...We have all the money to subsidize all the illegals that we have to educate,have babies for feed,provide medical, welfare,housing, phones,arm all government agencies,but not for things that we already pay taxes for!!! this is what boggles my mind. I'm so sick and tired of hearing about we don't have the money!! Not the right color! find it!! cut the programs that don't support real citizens!! Politicians do your dam jobs!! abide by what is right for tax payers for once!!not some thug baby momma illegal criminal!!!
No organization should ever release their emergency plans or protocols to the public. They should be "need to know" only and evaluated often by the team. Think about it. Bad guy wants to know what happens in a school when a bomb threat is called in. " we evacuate the building and go to our off site location which is XYZ, sir". Now all the bad guy has to do is call in the threat and sit and wait to pick kids and staff off as they evacuate to the off site location- or to the parking lots for a fire alarm. There are many aspects to look at with each situation and only a few people in charge are privy to all the information at the present time. With automated robo calls that have been occurring around the area- and no bombs found anywhere- the evidence is pointing strongly towards a hoax. As for the threat at the mall, it is easy to evacuate. No off site evacuation site needed, no transportation to call in. All they had to do was say "leave, get in your cars and go home." The reason they were closed so long was b/c dogs can only work for 20 min. at a time then must have a 10 minute break. Anyone know how many square feet the mall is? For all the experts, yes I have children in public schools.
But your plan doesn't increase the size of the voter base that keeps these scum bags in office. This is why the wheels are coming off the bus.
So you think illegals are the voters that elected the long string of sorry local politicians? Better look in the mirror.
If the Wicomico County school board didn't have money in their budget then how did they find the $325,000 dollars a year to lease a new BOE Office? This was done without the authority of the County Executive and The County Council.
"Employees will not show up for mandatory training without being paid."
That in itself is a dumb comment and causes you to lose credibility! What part a Mandatory don't you understand? They don't have to get paid, if the boss says it's mandatory you will be written up, lose pay, lose your job or all of the above.
"Employees will not show up for mandatory training without being paid."
That in itself is a dumb comment and causes you to lose credibility! What part a Mandatory don't you understand? They don't have to get paid, if the boss says it's mandatory you will be written up, lose pay, lose your job or all of the above.
3:18 the answer is yes. It's part of their contract. They get paid 10 professional days to get their continuing ed, professional development or whatever you want to call it. They don't need all of those 10 days so they don't have to attend those 10 days and they will get 10 vacation days.
Anonymous Anonymous said...
As far as the schools go a ton has already been done to make them more secure and no I have no connection to any of them except to have family that attends them. Also I have never known a school employee to get paid extra for anything and there are always extra meetings and work. Most if not all are on salary and expected to perform as much as is needed. One wonders about alarmists.
January 14, 2016 at 3:44 PM
So you are saying we have explosives experts in our schools to make our children safe?
Anonymous said...
As far as the schools go a ton has already been done to make them more secure and no I have no connection to any of them except to have family that attends them. Also I have never known a school employee to get paid extra for anything and there are always extra meetings and work. Most if not all are on salary and expected to perform as much as is needed. One wonders about alarmists.
January 14, 2016 at 3:44 PM
Ok Einstein, please tell us what the "ton" is that has been done to make the kids more secure? Ok, I know you can't answer that so just tell me one thing the school board has done to make the schools more secure?
Kim Pinhey and John Fredericksen should both be fired for not following protocol on that bomb threat.
B - Active shooter.
Fire and bomb threat should be handled the same way....
To the Author of this comment I would like to know where you found this protocol?
"These things cost money. Money which is controlled by elected officials as they approve budgets submitted by agency heads. You can't blame a Sheriff or Police Chief if they present a budget for a bomb dog or additional training in these areas and these budget requests are cut."
Of course you can blame them. If it is really needed then they will have to make changes to their own budget to buy it. Eliminate a staff vehicle, cut out overtime, cut out college tuition, eliminate a position, forgo a parking lot repavement until next year, forgo the new hires until next year, eliminate raises, etc. So there you go Moron!
Thornton said...
One way to put some more money in the coffers is to take away the credit cards from the WBOE and use the money wasted on dinners and other partying (and excursions) they do for the teachers that is unnecessary expenses to taxpayers on something more worthwhile - like security! After all, it's for the kids. Right?!
January 14, 2016 at 4:05 PM
Why? Bob Culver hasn't done that in the County yet!
Anonymous Anonymous said...
So...We have all the money to subsidize all the illegals that we have to educate,have babies for feed,provide medical, welfare,housing, phones,arm all government agencies,but not for things that we already pay taxes for!!! this is what boggles my mind. I'm so sick and tired of hearing about we don't have the money!! Not the right color! find it!! cut the programs that don't support real citizens!! Politicians do your dam jobs!! abide by what is right for tax payers for once!!not some thug baby momma illegal criminal!!!
January 14, 2016 at 5:31 PM
I agree with ya 100%
Anonymous said...
No organization should ever release their emergency plans or protocols to the public. They should be "need to know" only and evaluated often by the team. Think about it. Bad guy wants to know what happens in a school when a bomb threat is called in. " we evacuate the building and go to our off site location which is XYZ, sir". Now all the bad guy has to do is call in the threat and sit and wait to pick kids and staff off as they evacuate to the off site location- or to the parking lots for a fire alarm. There are many aspects to look at with each situation and only a few people in charge are privy to all the information at the present time. With automated robo calls that have been occurring around the area- and no bombs found anywhere- the evidence is pointing strongly towards a hoax. As for the threat at the mall, it is easy to evacuate. No off site evacuation site needed, no transportation to call in. All they had to do was say "leave, get in your cars and go home." The reason they were closed so long was b/c dogs can only work for 20 min. at a time then must have a 10 minute break. Anyone know how many square feet the mall is? For all the experts, yes I have children in public schools.
January 14, 2016 at 6:33 PM
Another intelligent one here! Since you think it's a good idea to keep the children "safe in place" instead of evacuating Parkside High School so they don't get picked off. Now the lunatic can "Pick off" more of our children because they now know that all 1300 of our kids will be in the school. One bomb will "pick off" hundreds of our kids instead of a sniper that might pick off a dozen at most.
Not very smart you Moron!
They still get paid for it. Don't redirect the conversation away from the point. They will have to be compensated for their time. That costs money.
Anonymous said...
More likely to have a Sandyhook type nutjob go postal at school on the shore than any so called Muslim terrorists. The eastern shore isn't much better than where they came from, they are looking to live better than that and if they are terrorists, they want to be somewhere that they blend in - not stand out.
January 14, 2016 at 4:04 PM
Sandy hook is no different than a Muslim Terrorist. A domestic terrorist is the same thing as a Muslim Terrorist. There goal is to kill innocent people. This could be a student, remember Columbine? It could be a teacher, parent, uncle, janitor, principal, vice principal, fired employee, anyone with a mental disorder. It's going to happen and with all these refugees and illegal aliens it's not a matter of "if it does" its a matter of "when it does."
We need to take all threats seriously.
That's probably why there were so many positive responses to the article on this blog about the Maryland CRT.
--
What is a Maryland CRT?
Anonymous said...
They still get paid for it. Don't redirect the conversation away from the point. They will have to be compensated for their time. That costs money.
January 15, 2016 at 8:35 AM
Gotcha!! LMAO! Know it All got busted!
How many bombs have been used in the US on schools? Let your kid be one of the ones picked off when they walk out of the school for a bomb threat hoax. You would be the first one in line complaining that they should not have evacuated because it was not a credible threat.
Shows what you know idiot, the UNION would never allow one second of work without being paid, and OVERTIME at that!
Post a Comment