Intruder drills go well

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The recent "intruder drills" at McCook Public Schools highlighted a few areas that needed to be addressed, said MPS Superintendent Grant Norgaard.

During the "Board and Administrative Comments" portion at the regular school board meeting Monday night, Norgaard said on the whole, the drills were conducted as planned and much was learned, but that he and staff realized that they weren't totally prepared for every issue that came up.

Still, the drill facilitated "good" conversation.

"No school can be fully ready...but we will be better prepared to address certain issues," he said.

The drills were conducted the week of Oct. 31 and reenacted a scenario where a threatening intruder entered McCook schools.

Later in the meeting, during "Positive Comments," Norgaard clarified that one of the areas that broke down was communication on phones.

Still, teachers made adjustments and used their cell phones to alert other teachers, he said, which showed good decision-making skills.

Norgaard also commended several staff members, including Dennis Berry, Central Elementary and Junior High Principal, for planning the drills, Tim Garcia and Joan Bass.

Board President Tom Bredvick also mentioned the intruder drill during Positive Comments, saying that he's heard a lot of positive feedback from parents about it. But, despite "practice, practice, practice, we still hope we never have to use it," he added.

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