School Lockdowns
A Drill to Prepare for am Emergency
By Stephanie Worrell

When my eight-year-old daughter came home from school last month and announced she'd been in lockdown that day, I thought I'd missed the "field trip to the local prison" memo.  Turns out there was no prison visit.  She'd been part of a school-wide drill to prepare students for an emergency situation when it is necessary to hold students and staff indoors.  As a GenX child growing up in the Midwest, I called that a tornado drill. 

Today, the term lockdown applies far beyond threatening weather, including circumstances such as an intruder, a schoolmate with a weapon, a nearby violent situation, bad air quality, terrorism-all situations that could prompt a school-wide lockdown.   The 1999 Columbine High School shootings brought to light the importance of having a plan in place and conducting regular lockdown drills, but parents and students shouldn't think school violence is the single reason.

"By law, Idaho schools are required to stage at least one emergency drill per month," said Dan Hollar, spokesperson for the Boise School District.  "Although lockdown drills are not mandatory, our schools incorporate them into their monthly emergency preparedness routines and rotations."

The key is to have a plan in place and regular practice, according to spokespeople representing two Treasure Valley school districts.  For the Meridian Joint School District No. 2 and the Boise School District, lockdown drills are an integral part of emergency preparedness planning. 

The Boise School District has a tradition of working in concert with the Boise Police Department. This partnership dates back to 1970 and involves a school resource officer (SRO) program, one of the very first to be developed in the nation, according to Hollar.  The SRO program's main objective is to ensure that Boise schools are safe and secure places in which to receive a top quality education. 

Parents can help at home by encouraging students to follow the directions of staff members when emergency response procedures are practiced. 

"Whether it's a regular fire drill, or a lockdown drill, students should take these drills seriously and practice them by following the orders given to them," said Hollar. 

Eric Exline, spokesperson for the Meridian Joint School District No. 2, echoed similar school safety procedures.

"Parents in our district should feel confident that we take emergency preparedness seriously, including situations that might warrant a lockdown," said Exline.  "We encourage parents to ask for a copy of their child's school emergency response booklet or talk to the school staff if they have concerns or need reassurance.  Many of our schools include this information in their regular newsletters that are sent home with students."

So, what does a typical school lockdown situation include? 

Although procedures may vary depending on the specific incident, Jeanne Buschine, head of Meridian School District's counseling services, said that a typical lockdown would mostly likely include: 1) gathering students into a classroom or enclosed area, 2) locking the door, 3) pulling the blinds, 4) turning off the lights, and 5) asking children to be silent.

She added that in certain situations-such as an earthquake-kids may be asked to seek shelter under their desks. 

"It's also important to point out that that the term ‘lockdown' is sometimes used interchangeably with ‘shelter in place,' " said Buschine.  "I encourage our teachers and staff to refer to a lockdown as a ‘shelter in place' situation or drill.  It's a gentler term.  I recommend that parents practice ‘shelter in place' at home.  Kids need to understand how important it is to calmly handle all emergency situations."

Buschine and Christopher Gibbons, a school counselor at Adams Elementary and Shadow Hills Elementary, provided a similar list of suggestions for parents with regard to helping children understand and cope with lockdown:

• Make time to talk with your children about emergency situations they will most likely encounter at school.
• Don't make the mistake of giving kids a false sense of security by eliminating the possibility of a real emergency situation from occurring at their school. This could alter their response or ability to take emergency preparedness seriously.
• If your child asks about a school crisis situation they have seen or heard about, don't provide too much information. You know your child. Give them what they need, but don't overload them with unnecessary details or be overly graphic.
• Keep conversations age-appropriate.
• Monitor television and other media closely. If there is a story about a school tragedy on the news, don't shelter them. But don't let them watch it over and over. Visualization for kids can sometimes cause stress and/or a sense of panic.
• Practice and plan for emergencies at home. Try to make it part of a normal (vs. reactive) emergency preparedness routine.
• Watch for signs of both emotional and physical stress. Enlist the help of your school counselor if you feel your child needs additional support.

"Bottom-line-kids take their cues from adults," said Gibbons.  "It's up to us as adults to help maintain a sense of normalcy, yet give kids an opportunity to express their fears and concerns.  Take the time to listen.  That's what is most important."

Stephanie Worrell is a mom and a local freelance writer.