Run Hide Fight: BSD makes steps to implement new safety training

BREMERTON — The Bremerton School District is making strides toward establishing new safety protocols in its schools.

A team of administrators, including Renaissance High School Principal Kristen Morga, Mountain View Middle School Assistant Principal Annette Farrington and West Sound Technical Skills Center Director Shani Watkins, participated in active shooter response training over the summer break.

The three participated in training for a program called ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate), an active shooter civilian response program.

According to the website, www.alicetaining.com, ALICE “classes provide preparation and a plan for individuals and organizations on how to more proactively handle the threat of an aggressive intruder or active shooter event. Whether it is an attack by an individual person or by a international group of professionals intent on conveying a political message through violence, ALICE Training option based tactics have become the accepted response, versus the traditional ‘lockdown only’ approach.”

ALICE has a K-12 program specifically designed for school security.

ALICE is one of the programs the district is looking at implementing, all falling under the umbrella of Run Hide Fight, a Department of Homeland Security funded project of the Regional Catastrophic Planning Initiative.

BSD is working in conjunction with the Olympic Educational Service District’s safety and security cooperative.

“We’re trying to be the nexus of connections with fire departments, EMTs (emergency medical technicians), mental health, county sheriffs and the police chiefs,” said Greg Lynch, OESD superintendent.

The cooperative gathers school administrators and emergency services personnel on a quarterly basis to discuss school safety.

Kristin Schutte, OESD’s executive director of student services and support, said the cooperative is focusing on Run Hide Fight training when it comes to school security.

“It’s changed from lockdowns,” Schutte said. “(It looks) at expanding that.”

Schutte said the cooperative has provided two different training options so far, including ALICE and gap training, which “provide kind of that direction to districts in supporting them.”

“We’ve also done a lot in catastrophic event planning,” Schutte added, “so looking at that recovery report that’s needed when something catastrophic happens in schools.”

That includes counseling support and coordination support between schools and emergency services for active shooter situations, as well as natural disasters. Schutte said the cooperative has conducted threat assessments in their districts to determine what “different modes and what practices are best.”

Lynch said, “I think it’s really important as we go forward and take a look at how we resource efforts like this.”

He said school safety does not fall under “basic education” funding, creating a funding shortcoming.

One particularly challenging area is related to behavioral and mental health issues, Lynch said. He explained that while there are a number of things they can do on a daily basis to offer mental health support that may be needed for a student, “the funding isn’t really there to do what we really need to do to prevent problems.”

“We’re working hard to try to see if we can get some light around that issue so we can be preventative, as opposed to reactive,” Lynch said.

Run, Hide, Fight

There is a helpful introductory training video, produced by the City of Houston Mayor’s Office of Public Safety, available on YouTube (youtu.be/5VcSwejU2D0) that outlines the basic principle of these safety measures.

“Sometimes, bad people do bad things,” the narrator says. “Their motivations are different, the warning signs may vary, but the devastating effects are the same. And unfortunately, you need to be prepared for the worst.”

The video explains that the first thing someone should look to do if they find themselves in an active shooter situation is to get out of the building.

When an active shooter is in your vicinity:

— If there is an escape path, attempt to evacuate

— Evacuate whether others agree to or not

— Leave your belongings behind

— Help others escape if possible

— Prevent others from entering the area

— Call 911 when you are safe

If evacuation is not possible, find a place to hide.

When trying to hide:

— Lock and/or blockade the door

— Silence your cell phone’s ring tone and vibration

— Hide behind large objects

— Remain quiet

Your hiding place should:

— Be out of the shooter’s view

— Provide protection if shots are fired in your direction

— Not trap or restrict your options for movement

The video says, “As a last resort, if your life is at risk … act with aggression.”

— Attempt to incapacitate the shooter

— Act with physical aggression

— Improvise weapons

— Commit to your actions

“Your actions can make a difference for your safety and survival,” the narrator concludes. “Be aware and be prepared. And if you find yourself facing an active shooter, there are three key things you need to remember to survive: Run. Hide. Fight.”