With yet another school mass shooting in the news, I know the fear and uncertainty is weighing heavy on the hearts and minds of parents all across the country. Within Shenendehowa schools, we are still using the Duck and Cover method, which is a counterproductive method wherein the students are taught to hide/barricade themselves. Using this method gives absolutely zero information to students on what to do if an active shooter is actually inside the classroom or nearby. Because of this, after much research and asking for feedback from other Shen parents, I truly believe the ALICE training method is the best way to go moving forward. ALICE stands for Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, and Evacuate. This is not a checklist to follow, but rather the options available. Staff and students would be trained on how to do each one of these things depending on the situation at hand. Studies have shown the effectiveness of this in lowering fatalities and keeping students and staff safe in such a terrible situation as an active shooter. We need to stop being reactive, and it’s time to be proactive. We need to equip staff and students with the best safety practices, god forbid something happen in our schools. We all want our children to be safe, and I believe it’s time to teach them the tools to protect themselves. Please research the ALICE method further and take a stand by signing this petition. It’s time for us parents to let our voices be heard, because keeping our children safe is our ultimate goal.

Learn more about each step of ALICE here:

https://www.alicetraining.com/our-program/alice-training/