New Security Protocols Outlined for Howell SchoolsNew Security Protocols Outlined for Howell Schools

9/15/14 - The new protocols and procedures implemented this year to deal with security threats were presented to the Howell School Board last week. Howell Safe School Director Patrick Sidge says ever since the Columbine shooting the protocols for dealing with threats in schools has been a constantly-evolving discipline. With that in mind, all five major school districts in Livingston County gathered to create an ad hoc committee tasked with developing a new security plan that could be implemented county-wide. Sidge said officials knew it would behoove all of the school districts to know they are on the same page. The committee looked at the best practices and most important tactics from a number of school safety protocols. This included sending representatives to get certified in Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, and Evacuate, or ALICE, training. They took the best portions of the different programs to create the new protocol, which has been implemented in all of the school districts in the county. The results of their research were coordinated with the Emergency Management Division of the Livingston County Sheriff’s Department to make sure they are congruous with the law enforcement efforts that will be undertaken in case of a real school shooting incident. Sidge says it will be beneficial for law enforcement to know what a school’s response to a shooter incident will be regardless of the district. (TD)