In regard to the November 30th Oxford school shooting, followed by numerous shooting threats from various high schools throughout Michigan, Northview administration has set more safety protocols to maintain a safe environment for all.
Nearly two weeks after the Oxford tragedy, the I Love U Guys Foundation provided Northview High School with an updated list of safety protocols, ensuring school and community safety.
The list consists of emergency responses such as hold, secure, lockdown, evacuate and shelter in the case of an emergency. Each action is accompanied by clear instructions to enforce staff and student security. The list of emergency procedures can be found in classrooms, hallways and the four school offices.
To further ensure student security, the school installed the bluepoint system this past year. New lockdown buttons for the building have also been installed in the front office.
“If there’s a threat outside the school and someone wants to prevent people from coming in, the office ladies push that button that’s going to lockdown the entire school,” district safety officer, Deputy Michael Allen said.
Schools are predominantly pursuing emergency training as well. ALICE Training Solutions have been used to prepare students, staff, and school safety officers in case of an active shooter.
“In the event of an active shooter we want everyone to [evacuate the building], get out of the line of sight of the suspect, and to be ready to defend themselves. This training has been proven to work,” Allen said.
An efficient way to prevent a case like this from happening is to stop the suspect beforehand. Students are strongly encouraged to voice their concerns if they suspect a student may be a threat to their peers.
“There really is no better way to prevent [a school shooting] than people talking,” Allen said. “It starts with the students and the staff, our eyes and ears.”