Charles City Superintendent Lundquist Provides Security Update in Response to Perry School Shooting
*The following is a letter from Charles City Schools Superintendent Anne Lundquist regarding security measures at the district’s school buildings; sent out to school district families and parents at 6 pm Thursday (01.04) in the wake of the Perry School shooting tragedy
January 4, 2024
Greetings CCCSD Parents and Families:
As we become aware of the disturbing news of tragedy in Perry Community Schools, it is natural to pause and ask ourselves what implications such an event might have on our district. My purpose for sharing this message with you is to make you aware of some of the efforts underway in our district to provide for the safety of our students and staff.
In August of 2022, Director of Operations, Jerry Mitchell and I established a Crisis Response and Life Safety Committee, the purpose of which is to actively address safety and security issues throughout the district. This committee includes representatives from all buildings, county and city law enforcement, emergency management, the school board, and nursing staff. We meet regularly to not only review current practices, but to engage in critical conversations as to how we can improve our current practices. We also engage in simulations, called “table top exercises,” in which we practice and troubleshoot various crisis situations to help build our skills to effectively respond in a crisis situation.
In collaboration with the Crisis Response and Life Safety Committee, the district has fully revised and vetted a crisis response manual. This Emergency Operations Plan details specific guidance for school leaders and Crisis Response Committee members as to how to address various critical incidents. It also includes a classroom reference tool to be used by teachers so they are able to quickly access step-by-step procedures in response to a full range of crisis situations. These resources are reviewed and updated annually as part of the school board’s annual appraisal of our crisis response efforts.
On an ongoing basis operations staff, in collaboration with local law enforcement, conduct checks on the security features on all buildings. In the past, the middle school was the only building that had the capacity to place the building in lock-down, which is to lock all exterior and some interior doors to secure students and staff. However, this equipment has recently been updated at the high school and both elementary schools. This enables schools to be fully secured within seconds should a crisis emerge, and simultaneously notifies law enforcement and key district staff.
Professional development and student learning sessions relative to crisis response are also in place. Last year the school board approved the purchase of a crisis response curriculum for elementary students called Safety Strong, which is being implemented this year. It provides age-appropriate instruction for elementary students to improve their ability to respond in a crisis situation. At the secondary level, the district has collaborated with the Chief of Police to provide student learning sessions on how to effectively respond to an intruder. In August, employees were required to engage in a professional learning session provided by law enforcement prior to the start of the school year to increase their ability to respond in an emergency. This training will continue to be required on an ongoing basis.
Moving forward, I will continue to work closely with the Crisis Response and Life Safety Committee to ensure we are taking steps to ensure our students and staff are safe and well-prepared to respond to an emergency situation. I, like you, believe student safety is a top priority for the district, and I am committed to doing whatever I can to provide for a secure learning environment. I hope this information is helpful to you, I encourage you to share with others should the opportunity arise.
As always, do not hesitate to contact me if you have questions or other concerns. I am always happy to assist.
Sincerely,
Anne
