BAKERSFIELD, CA - California schools are required to update safety plans by March 1st. It's a yearly requirement, but one local principal is taking extra precautions.
In January, local first responders took part in a crisis training exercise, simulating a large scale explosion and shooting at Bakersfield College. Norris Elementary School Principal Dan Weirather participated in the training.
Weirather said, "We participated as bad guys in that scenario of a classroom hostage situation and then we served as administrators and worked with the command post on how to include administrators into the incident command system."
He incorporated crisis response techniques into the school's safety plan.
"We wanted to make sure that, in the Norris School District, that we were a hard target in case of any type of active shooter situation. So we do things a little differently here," said Weirather.
At the beginning of the year, teachers and faculty went through a new type of training.
Weirather said, "It follows the homeland security model of run, hide and fight. We teach them those different options that they have, which are to evacuate, to run away from the danger, to effectively barricade their classroom, not just lock the door and if need be, if faced with emanate death, to fight."
They participate in a classroom session and a live simulation. It's a training Weirather says will continue each year and as new employees are hired.
"We're trying to practice and be prepared for the things that are most likely to occur. This is unfortunately something that we have to practice for," he said.
According the state education department, our county took part in multiple School Community Violence Prevention trainings, beyond the basic requirements. These programs include bullying and gang prevention, crisis response and safe school planning.
In January, local first responders took part in a crisis training exercise, simulating a large scale explosion and shooting at Bakersfield College. Norris Elementary School Principal Dan Weirather participated in the training.
Weirather said, "We participated as bad guys in that scenario of a classroom hostage situation and then we served as administrators and worked with the command post on how to include administrators into the incident command system."
He incorporated crisis response techniques into the school's safety plan.
"We wanted to make sure that, in the Norris School District, that we were a hard target in case of any type of active shooter situation. So we do things a little differently here," said Weirather.
At the beginning of the year, teachers and faculty went through a new type of training.
Weirather said, "It follows the homeland security model of run, hide and fight. We teach them those different options that they have, which are to evacuate, to run away from the danger, to effectively barricade their classroom, not just lock the door and if need be, if faced with emanate death, to fight."
They participate in a classroom session and a live simulation. It's a training Weirather says will continue each year and as new employees are hired.
"We're trying to practice and be prepared for the things that are most likely to occur. This is unfortunately something that we have to practice for," he said.
According the state education department, our county took part in multiple School Community Violence Prevention trainings, beyond the basic requirements. These programs include bullying and gang prevention, crisis response and safe school planning.