Avon Schools - School Safety Community Forum - 07/30/2018

[rhino]

Avon Community School Corporation is Hosting Special Board Meeting and School Safety Community Forum Avon, IN

The Avon Community School Board and Administration are committed to the safety and wellbeing of our students and staff. Recent tragic events, right here in Indiana, have certainly reinforced the need to revisit and recommit to our already strong security protocols. Administrators, school safety specialists, and local law enforcement have worked diligently through the summer to review current plans and to implement new tools and changes that will be in place the first day of school. Some of these changes will be shared publicly while others will be kept confidential (as allowed by law) to protect the integrity of our plans. We understand that many parents and students seek more information before school begins on August 1st. To that end, a special School Board meeting and School Safety Community Forum has been scheduled for Monday, July 30th from 6:30-8:00 p.m. in the Avon Middle School South Auditorium (7199 E. U.S. Hwy 36, Avon; Door 13). During this presentation, interested patrons will hear from school leaders, Avon Police Chief Sean Stoops, Avon-Washington Township Fire Department Chief Dan Smith as well as school counseling representatives. Once the presentation has concluded, attendees will be invited to break into smaller groups (facilitated by ACSC administrators) to discuss this very important topic and to provide input. The evening will conclude promptly at 8:00 p.m. We hope our Avon families and community members can join us.

Whatever they are planning will directly affect a number INGO members and their families. It will also affect others as school corporations often copy each other's actions. If you're interested in hearing about what they are planning, attend the forum if you can! If you want to be heard, the announcement states that attendees will be allowed to "provide input."

WHAT: Avon Community School Corporation Special School Board Meeting & and School Safety Community Forum
DATE: 07/30/2018 (this coming Monday)
TIME: 06:30 - 08:00 PM
LOCATION: Avon Middle School South Auditorium (7199 E US Hwy 36, Avon; Door 13)

 

[Vigilant]

I'm going to do my best to get back from TN in time for this, as I will have a child there in a couple of years if we can't swing a private school. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[Coach]

As stated in the OP schools do not like to make decisions without consulting with nearby schools first. Folks need to show up and ask questions and be heard. If only one side of the issue shows up guess how the decision will look.

 

[KellyinAvon]

I will be there!

 

[KellyinAvon]

The info on this meeting is on the Avon PD's Facebook (Chief Stoops will be one of the speakers) and the Nextdoor website.

 

[Coach]

Metal detectors seem to be a part of the schools solution.

 

[KellyinAvon]

Metal detectors seem to be a part of the schools solution.

Do you have some Intel on what's coming tomorrow?

 

[Coach]

Do you have some Intel on what's coming tomorrow?

No intel other than they have put in for 38 metal detectors.

I have 23 years of experience in the corporation so I can imagine.

 

[KellyinAvon]

No intel other than they have put in for 38 metal detectors.

I have 23 years of experience in the corporation so I can imagine.

I just read yesterday's Hendricks County Flyer. Metal detector use was the only thing mentioned.

 

[KellyinAvon]

WTTV had the announcement this AM. Standing room only?

 

[87iroc]

Bartholomew is going to install metal detectors....

 

[bwframe]

Seems like a whole lot of trouble, effort and our money vs holding people accountable for their actions?

Nearly all recent school shootings point to authority figures involved not doing their job. As long as we continue to let peers, guardians and officials stand by and let mentally troubled people get away with doing bad things, these school shootings will continue.

As will our 2A rights continue to and increasingly be under siege.

 

[rhino]

Won't metal detectors result in extra people dying when a murderer starts shooting as they enter rather than starting inside to take revenge on specific individuals or groups?

 

[cordex]

I'm planning on being there tonight.

Not holding out much hope for the ability to influence anything, but I'll be there.

 

[KellyinAvon]

Won't metal detectors result in extra people dying when a murderer starts shooting as they enter rather than starting inside to take revenge on specific individuals or groups?

After creating a bottleneck and a soft target with a large number of people in close proximity? I had also considered that.

 

[KellyinAvon]

Probably25-30 cars here now

 

[GodFearinGunTotin]

Won't metal detectors result in extra people dying when a murderer starts shooting as they enter rather than starting inside to take revenge on specific individuals or groups?

Yes. Like generals, politicians are always fighting the last "war". It doesn't take a tactical mastermind to see what can happen next.

 

[KellyinAvon]

OK, back home (all of a 2 mile round trip) and time to review.

This was an ACSC board meeting, had the school superintendent, Avon PD and FD Chiefs, Hendricks County Emergency Mgt and a rep from the Prosecutor's Office. The school IT security/other security guy was there as well. In the audience (maybe 250-300) was State Rep Greg Steuerwald and one of Rokita's staffers.

Standard big room with Power Point slides, then went to the cafeteria where small groups had discussions with various administrators.

Positives first: 5 School Resource Officers, got a cyber security grant plus another grant from DHS. Training is standardized. They get it with the fire alarms after Parkland, that was good to see. OPSEC on actual operational plans, good to see. Being a visitor will be a bigger pain, have a government-issued ID.

During the small group breakout there were a number of good questions and concerns brought up. In our group there were everything from Moms of Elementary school kids to a Grandpa of elementary school kids. A school board member and a couple INGOers as well

This is INGO so I'll skip ahead to the "armed staff other than LEOs" discussion. Neither Coach or myself brought it up first, but it did come up. Very positive towards the subject from our group. I piggybacked with "Don't overlook the maintenance staff. They know the school better than anyone and there will be prior military folks in that group."

Coach asked the question that needed asked. I'll defer to him on posting that one.

Now the not as positive: The IT/Security guy from the school tossed a blurb up on the screen from the Sandy Hook commission. It completely missed what happened and nothing mentioned would've made a difference in that tragedy.

Metal detecting wands: there is no such thing as a free puppy.

What I saw would deter a junior high student who'd been rejected by a girl. I didn't see anything that would deter someone willing to spend a year planning a mass-murder.


Other stuff:
Coach brought up having no room for ND in the scenario of arming additional staff. I didn't bring it up but I thought of handling nuclear weapons. Very high standards and training.

Earlier this year I explained to my 12 year old niece why they had to stay below the windows in an active-shooter drill. It bothered me a great deal that children have to be concerned with such things.

I'm concerned that activity is being confused with accomplishment.

 

[cordex]

Nice to meet you tonight Kelly. We had a particularly gun friendly group (except the woman who started wringing her hands every time someone said “gun”).

 

[KellyinAvon]

Nice to meet you tonight Kelly. We had a particularly gun friendly group (except the woman who started wringing her hands every time someone said “gun”).

Ah, three INGOers at the table! I take it you were at the opposite end of the table from Coach and I and asked the arming staff question. Also, the hand-wringer was a school board member.