WILLIAMSBURG, Va. — Thursday marks one year since a gunman opened fire at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland Florida killing 17 people and parents, like Tiffany Terrell, said it’s important to talk to kids about school shootings.
“I think it’s definitely necessary to have a conversation about it. Just to make them aware that if you hear any shootings or anything like that just go to a safe place," said Terrell. "You know that’s all you can do. Hide under a desk, in the closet, whatever is available. It just depends on where you are in the school."
Like parents, schools and police departments are concerned about school shootings.
Master Police Officer Charlie Ericsson said during the summer his officers conduct active shooter training in the schools.
“Our department has been working for over 20 years developing active shooter training that we go through. We have three schools here in the City of Williamsburg, but the rest of our school system is shared with James City County," said Ericsson. "We have mutual aid agreements with James City County, the College of William and Mary, York County and of course state police. In the event of an active shooter situations here in the city we would have multiple agencies responding."
After the Parkland shooting Ericsson said Williamsburg Police started training using the ALERRT, Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training, system. It involves drills, simulation training and sets a standard for how officers across the country can respond to school shootings.
The system was developed at Texas State University.
Keeping kids safe at school is something police and schools take seriously. But with evolving threats, Ericsson said it’s always changing.
“Social media has really developed over the last 10 years and the students are using it a lot. So we monitor some of the social media accounts of some of the students, or if a threat is brought to our attention, then we have to address that as well,” said Ericsson.
The Senior Director for Communications and Engagement, Eileen Cox, said Williamsburg-James City County Schools works diligently to provide the safest place possible for students. While the division doesn’t disclose all safety plans, they did release the following information:
- All WJCC Schools have buzzer entry systems for visitors and card key access for staff members.
- The division continues to redesign and renovate front entrances at schools to better manage public access and the flow of foot traffic.
- This Fall, the school division implemented the division-wide use of a computer-based visitor sign-in system that checks visitor IDs against sex offender databases nationwide.