Police plan surprise drills at schools

By CARBON SCHOOL DISTRICT

    On Friday Carbon School District announced it will be conducting drills in various schools between now and the end of the school year involving multiple law enforcement agencies.
    The district and police report there will be little advance warning of the training exercises.
    “The drills are designed to prepare everyone regarding how to respond in case the unthinkable should arise,” said Carbon Superintendent Lance Hatch. “We want to make sure that students, faculty, staff and first responders know what to do should an emergency occur on one of our campuses.”
    Drills have taken place in the district over the years and just last year a drill was held at Mont Harmon Middle School. At the debriefing after that drill a number of issues that needed to be addressed were discovered and have since been corrected.
    Drills this spring could take place at any time in the school day and at any school in the district, from the elementary campuses to the high schools.
    Ken Labrum, the district’s security supervisor, said on Friday the drills are an exercise not only for those who attend and work in the schools, but also for the law enforcement agencies.
    “These drills are a learning experience for everyone involved,” he said. “They are not meant to scare or upset anyone, but instead to help everyone be prepared for any eventuality.”
    The drills will be held without much advance warning, but just before any drill begins at any one school the district will use reverse 911 calls to homes, the districts Facebook page, and other means to let parents know that the exercise is just a drill.
Parents should note also that any drill means the campus of that school will be closed and on lock down until it is declared over. That means no one will be allowed to enter or leave the school grounds during the exercise. Parents and other citizens are also urged to stay away from schools where drills are being conducted to prevent confusion and congestion.