Copperas Cove ISD, Police Department, Fire Department united on student safety
Special to the Leader-Press
A student has not died in a school fire in more than 50 years. Yet, Copperas Cove schools conduct fire drills monthly, a proactive approach to keeping students and staff safe in the event of an emergency. Severe weather drills, hold, lockdown, and secure drills, hazardous materials drills, and active threat drills are also conducted so students, staff, and emergency personnel are fully prepared.
Copperas Cove Police officers certified through Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training conducted this year’s active threat drill at Copperas Cove Junior High School in collaboration with CCISD administrators and city emergency services. Copperas Cove Police Explorers played the roles of students during the exercise.
CCISD Deputy Superintendent of Operations and Support Rick Kirkpatrick said it is imperative that Copperas Cove Independent School District and the Copperas Cove Police Department and other first responders continue to work closely together to provide a safe environment for our staff and students.
“This training provided officers and district staff the opportunity to refresh their knowledge about active threat responses,” Kirkpatrick said. “This training reinforces prior trainings for our staff and the police department and allows new administrative staff members to be exposed to active threat response.”
The Copperas Cove Police Department trains its officers through active threat exercises annually, and the training has taken place on multiple campuses throughout the district over the years. The safety of students and staff has and will always be a priority to the department and the school district.
Captain Gabriel Cardona of the Copperas Cove Police Department said officers learned a great deal from the city’s EMS and school partners this year.
“They provided great feedback which was used to enhance the quality of training as it unfolded in real time,” Cardona said. “We are pleased with how this training program has evolved over the years and continue to evaluate all aspects in order to provide the best training possible for all involved.”
School administrators traveled with police officers through hallways, classrooms, and common areas, gaining a better understanding of measures taken by law enforcement to ensure both student and staff safety.
“School administrators play a vital role in crisis management and this training provided them the opportunity to ask first responders direct questions about their response and the administration’s role in that response,” Kirkpatrick said. “The key to an effective response is communication among all parties, including a communication plan with both staff on site and parents who are receiving texts from their students. This is in addition to the communication during the crisis between first responders and district personnel.”
Cardona said school staff members assist law enforcement in not only reunification, but with communication between the incident command post and staff, students, and families.
“In an active threat situation, parents often receive frantic phone calls or messages from their children as an event is ongoing and unfortunately, inaccurate information may be provided. Parents, understandably, respond to the campus, along with other citizens, which makes an already chaotic situation even more challenging on first responders and school officials,” Cardona said. “Bringing CCISD staff on board as the situation unfolds allows for better communication to both the affected staff and students on campus, as well as their friends and family outside. It is important to convey to the public when a situation is under control and is being handled by first responders with the utmost care and importance.”
CCISD Communications Department staff also underwent training at Region 12 that included mock drill exercises in collaboration with area law enforcement agencies.
Copperas Cove Police Explorer and CCHS JROTC Cadet Philip Jackson assisted with the training and said he feels safe at school.
“It was like such a real-life experience and gave me skills for my future. I want to become a state trooper,” the high school senior said. “If there ever is actually a school shooter, I know how they’re going to breach the building and basically how we keep ourselves safe.”
As Copperas Cove ISD continues to prioritize student safety, parents and students also play a role both in and outside the school. These steps are recommended for parents by the National Association of Elementary School Principals to continue to ensure the safety of students.
- Learn the school's emergency procedures. Emergency plans and phone numbers are usually included in school handbooks and posted in classrooms. Taking a few extra minutes to familiarize yourself and your child with emergency information can give him the confidence he needs to act quickly in emergency situations.
- Know travel routes to and from the school. Make sure you and your child know both primary and alternate routes. In an emergency, roads can be blocked and it's important to have a backup plan.
- Know and follow school security and safety measures. These might include signing in when visiting the school, being escorted when walking through the building, or wearing a visitor pass. Following these procedures also sets a great example for your kids.
- Talk with your child about safety. Be specific. Talk about instinct and paying attention to funny feelings of fear. Explain what to do if she doesn't feel safe (find a teacher, call 911, etc.). Make sure she knows how to contact you or a trusted neighbor who is likely to be at home.
- Inform school staff about health and emotional concerns. Whether your child has a food allergy, a physical disability, or has been subject to bullying, make sure to keep your child's teachers and principal in the loop.
- Get involved. Talk with the principal about what you can do to increase school safety, such as organizing parents to form a neighborhood watch before and after school. Sometimes parent groups are highly successful in making improvements in traffic safety during drop off and pickup times.