Portland Public Schools: Every school has an emergency plan
PORTLAND, Ore. - In light of the horrific school shooting in Connecticut on Friday, a Portland Public Schools official said local schools have plans in place for emergencies.
"Every school has an emergency response plan that is tailored for each individual building," Matt Shelby, spokesman with Portland Public Schools said on Friday.
"It’s a “multi-hazard” plan that covers both man-made emergencies and natural emergencies. The actual plans are not available on-line for obvious reasons," Shelby said.
Rob Saxton, Deputy Superintendent of Public Instruction, issued a statement Friday morning regarding school safety and the tragedy in Connecticut. "Nothing is more important than they safety of our students while they are in our care and I know the teachers and administrators in our schools take this responsibility incredibly seriously."
"I have been in contact with our schools this morning to ensure we are all doing a thorough review of our safety procedures and precautions to make sure we are doing everything humanly possible to keep our kids safe," Saxton said. Read his full statement | Statement from Gov. Kitzhaber
Shelby said each Portland school has a designated place where kids and staff go after an evacuation and procedures are in place to bring parents and students together after any incident. There is also a secondary site if the first one isn't available.
Portland Public Schools also has a system in place for instant alerts, including twitter and text messages, if an emergency arises, Shelby said.
He advises parents to make sure schools have current contact information, especially a phone number, on file where their children attend.
He said the school has online resources for emergency preparedness that is getting ongoing updates.
Shelby also said all classrooms have emergency "Go-Kits" that include First Aid kits, water, toilet supplies, a flashlight and other items.
Statement from Rob Saxton, Deputy Superintendent of Public Instruction:
“I know I speak for many when I say I am deeply shocked and saddened by this terrible tragedy. It is hard to think about harm coming to any child, let alone the magnitude of what we saw today. As a father, an educator, and a citizen, I grieve for those we lost and for their families, classmates, and teachers. Our thoughts and prayers are with all those impacted by this horrible event.
“Tragedies like this make us all understandably concerned about the safety of our own schools and our own students. Nothing is more important than they safety of our students while they are in our care and I know the teachers and administrators in our schools take this responsibility incredibly seriously. I have been in contact with our schools this morning to ensure we are all doing a thorough review of our safety procedures and precautions to make sure we are doing everything humanly possible to keep our kids safe.
“To the students, teachers, and families of Sandy Hook Elementary – we send our deepest sympathies during this terrible time.”
Statement from Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber:
"There aren't enough words to express my sorrow for the people of Newtown, Connecticut, or my anger that someone would deliberately hurt children. Oregonians have had to come together over tragedy this week, and we come together now to send our profound condolences to the families and victims of Newtown. I support the President's call for meaningful action, regardless of politics."
The title is a joke. Â Schools in Portland may have plans on paper but no real realistic working plans. No one is really prepared for this. Â Parents need to start questioning their child's schools and protocols. Â Someone intent on getting into the school is going to find one to get into. Â Even private or charter schools. Â And perhaps have a tie to it so is aware of any safety measures they have and could breach them. Â I have a beach front property in AZ I will sell you. Â
You can't go homeschooling your children because things like this happen. Your child will eventually grow up and these things can happen (as has been proven in recent days) grocery store, mall, anywhere.
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I am confident that PPS and all of the other districts have a plan...but unfortunately even with a plan, these psychos who decide they want to shoot up a school will find out a way around it. Even by the time the police got there, nothing could've been done. All the damage was done, that's the worst part. We are so fortunate for all of those teachers who risked their own lives and saved these babies. Also, remaining calm. What a hard task knowing what was going on.
the new world order/illuminati bilderburg group is planning on culling the herd soon
The Sandy Hook school had all kinds of emergncy prep things on stand-by. They followed all the rules. How is it this person got in anyway. Somehow and in someway, this person got in. I don't have grandchildren yet...and I was raised in a private school...but I agree...homeschooling sounds like the best alternative to me right now. Although...how does that help what happened in Clackamas Town Center? Or in the shopping mall where Gabby Giffords and others were attacked? Or at the Aurora Cinemas in Colorado?
@fracas He was buzzed in because the staff recognized him. His mother was a teacher there-- kindergarten I believe, although he killed her at her home.Â
Unfortunately, any place that is a "gun free zone" like malls, movie theatres and schools are easy targets for anyone with a grudge. They know beyond a shadow of a doubt that they can take out quite a few people in just a few minutes before any help arrives, and so they specifically target those places and most kill themselves before the police arrive. Some see this as an act of cowardice. I believe that killing themselves before they can be aprehended is a power thing.  I think most of these types of shooters are frustrated in their own lives and very angry at specific people and/or society at large because of multiple reasons, and they feel frustrated, furious and powerless. When that builds to the point where they are ready to do violence, I believe they see the violence as a way to wrest power and control from other people and to finally win in the end--they get their revenge. They know they will cause fear, devastation and confusion for a long time to come and I believe they relish that knowledge.   Â
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In my opinion, the answer is for every one of us to take responsibility for our own and our loved ones' safety. We all need training in situational awareness, self defense, and if so inclined, gun use and safety. I believe we should have trained and armed gaurds in every school and even possibly trained and armed teachers. Just the fact that there are armed guards at schools will go a long way in preventing these unfortunate incidents. Israel has armed guards posted in their schools. http://www.debbieschlussel.com/57370/on-the-ct-school-shooting-just-remember-israeli-schools-are-protected-with-guns/  http://i.imgur.com/Ts1So.jpg   because of just such an incident.Â
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At least two of the guns the Connecticut shooter had were banned in that state, so banning guns obviously does no good, and I wouldn't suggest that anyway--its unconstitutional and ridiculously naive.
I homeschooled my girls for all but a couple years of their entire school career. The younger one is just now finishing up her last couple high school credits and the older one is in college and sounds like she will make the dean's honor roll list this quarter (her first quarter). For now, unless and until things change drastically in the school system, homeschooling is the best option, not only for safety reasons but also academic and moral reasons as well.Â
 @Corinna  @fracas Most parents don't have your option.  My sons went to public school locally and got the most out of it.  What is the bragging for?  So what?  Both my sons got high grades in college. They liked the social aspect and working on projects and the competion with classmates tremendously.  One recently graduated second from the top of his class and is now a doctor. Â
@my2cents You know what? We were totally broke until our kids were about middle school age. My husband worked his butt off so I could stay home with the kids. I took temp jobs, cleaned a lot of people's houses (took the girls with me and they learned from that) and we lived a very frugal life for a long time to make ends meet. And I know a lot of people who homeschooled with a lot less than we had, and even single mothers who homeschooled their kids. Its a matter of what's important to you. It was not easy, but it was important to us. Â
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What's with the bragging? A) To make a point that homeschooling works as well as public school and B) because I'm proud of my kids, like most people are. That's what's with the bragging.
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I'm glad your kids did well in public school and college. I'm certain they wouldn't have done as well if you hadn't been there to discipline and encourage them, so kudos to you. However, some kids do well in public school and some don't. Mine didn't do as well at public school as they did at home, and both our girls liked homeschooling better than public. They also enjoyed our many co-op classes with other homeschoolers and various other sports, activities, and field trips. We made a lot of great memories together with all those activities we got to do together, and I cherish every one of them.
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I like my kids. I like being around them. I enjoyed helping them learn to read their first words as much as (maybe more) than I enjoyed helping them learn to talk and walk etc. I will _never_ regret the extra time I got to spend with my kids. There is nothing that even comes close to that in value. I wouldn't trade it for a billion dollars.
I have a plan too: Homeschooling. Its working out just great, too!
 @brautigan What about when your child has to leave? It works for school, but like I said in my comment, it has been proven that this stuff happens everywhere, and it's sad. What are you going to do if your kid needs to get out in public?
@Sarbar @brautigan Life is dangerous, we have to accept that. I guarantee you, the death rate is 100%--everyone who is born will die.  We're more likely to die in a car accident than a shooting, but you don't see people trading in their cars so they can walk to work. Just not practical. Instead you see people wear seatbelts, manufacturers making safer cars, discounts on insurance for safer drivers, commercials to discourage risky behaviours while driving and people taking driver's ed courses.Â
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We need more normal, responsible people to be situationally aware, taking self defense classes, and carrying concealed weapons.  We need more people who are willing to put themselves in harms way to save others. Â
 @brautigan Had some crazoid in my yard Sunday when my daughter had a friend over. That was tricky. It turns out the guy appeared in a neighbor's hallway Sunday at 3 a.m. and got chased out with a baseball bat. I saw him Sunday at 3 p.m. which means he spent 12 hours hiding out our backyards somewhere, possibly behind my shed while the kids were out back playing.It doesn't mean homeschooling isn't safe or that you shouldn't do it, just pointing out that weird, crazy crap happens where you DON'T expect it, not where you do.
 @Playanekes  @brautigan You should have a dog who would have alerted you.  My dog 7 lbs thinks she is a police dog.  We always know when a raccoon is raiding the cat bowl.  Just saying in the future.
In Oregon it is not uncommon fro urban schools of high and even some junior high, to have School Resource officers. These are often (most often) sworn law enforcement officers of the local jurisdiction who, like all law enforcement in the US are armed and trained.
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But they don't often visit elementary schools. Their job is often to address issues with the student body, not outside influences (although they are just as common of calls).
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I suggest we have these officers, two or more, for every school. Maybe these can be full time individuals, or maybe they can have other duties like vice principle or other administrative staff (for clarity of management, control and for insurance and union reasons I suggest anyone but a teacher). These administrators can serve both as internal security in the school as well as external safety.
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It is a sad day when we have to arm out principles in elementary schools. But I will applaud the day when Mr. Smith and Mrs. Johnson blow the head clean off the next monster before he shoots his first kid.
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Iâm feeling a little bloodthirsty right now.
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 @Repoman According to the school official on the radio today, they have one school resource officer shared between a "cluster" of four schools.
 @Playanekes  @Repoman ~  Sounds to me as though this kind of thing ~ security measures such as school resource officers ~  is what the should be using some of the school funding for, rather than top-heavy administration, excessive salaries / pensions, and computer programs that aren't needed and don't work.
Keeping them safe is really and truly "for the kids"..!
Provide some real security at schools, not the pixie dust and wishful hopes the Super paints a picture of.
Teachers union, go on strike for real safety measures instead of the fat paychecks and benefits.
You would have done this long ago if it ever really was 'for the kids'.
 @Jack_Bauer Amen, Jack.
I couldn't have put it any better.
...pixie dust and wishful hopes
. It amazes me that a person can just walk into any school in america at any time. THe world is changed and its time to change with it. We need to protect our future by starting with the children.
@LostSoul he shows up to the school and asked to see his mom, who worked there. You can't protect against everything.
@Playanekes No you cannot, but doing nothing doesnt help either. This world is not a safe place. We can do better to protect our young. Noone should ever have to lose a child. It is sickening
I think it's time to rethink those safety measures that we have in place and start to build on them to make our kids safer. As of right now Id be ok pulling my kids out of school and home schooling them until i was assured that my children are as safe as they can possibly be.
I think it's time to have a police officer guarding our schools. Â These types of things are only going to get worse! Â
@stoneloc the officer needs to be uniformed. Portland has one security officer who travels between "clusters" of schools, which means if you want to do harm you just have to take that guy out first, or wait for him to go to one of the other schools.
 @stoneloc Un-uniformed, I mean. Otherwise, he just shoots the guy in uniform first.
@stoneloc as our homeland becomes more and more unsafe, it seems we need to start protecting our assets, including our children and their schooling.
 @LostSoul I feel very lucky to home school my son.  Even luckier that in my county they have an awesome program that provides the curriculum!  I can't imagine my life without my kids, it's just so sad!  No one should ever have to lose a child!
The plan is to call the police and hope that they get there before the shooter run out of ammunition. That's the plan. Meanwhile, 23 kids stabbed at a school in China today, and, guess what. According to CBS News : "The attack marks the latest in a series of violent assaults at elementary schools in China. In 2010, a total of 18 children were killed in four separate attacks. On March 23 of that year, Zheng Minsheng attacked children at an elementary school in Fujian Province, killing eight. One month later, just a few hours after Zheng Minsheng was executed for his crime, another man, Chen Kanbing wounded 16 students and a teacher in a knife attack at another primary school in Fujian. The following month, on May 12, a man named Wu Huangming killed seven children and two adults with a meat cleaver at a kindergarten in Shaanxi Province. That attack was followed by an August 4 assault by Fang Jiantang, who killed three children and one teacher with a knife at a kindergarten in Shandong Province. In 2011, a young girl and three adults were killed with an axe at an elementary school in Henan Province by a 30-year-old man named Wang Hongbin, and eight children were hurt in Shanghai after an employee at a child care center attacked them with a box cutter..."
 @PlayanekesÂ
Teachers need to carry guns. As you stated police will never get there in time.
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Unless schools become high security instillations like the airports then we will be at risk.
 @RalphCramden  @PlayanekesÂ
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I am going to play devil's advocate here on this.
And an airport is like a mall, and as has been demonstrated, you can run and find a place to hide there.
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A school is a bunch of holed up people crowded in small rooms with one exit.
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And if you've ever seen a door breach, you know bolt lock won't keep a person out with a shotgun.
 @RalphCramden  @Repoman  @Playanekes As a teacher I would not carry a gun.  But I could get my students safely behind a door that is strong enough to protect us.  I could find a place for us ro hide.  Teachers do not want to carry guns or work in a war zone. Â
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Maybe some of the military could be assigned and rotated through schools. Â Protect us in the homeland.
I don't like that idea. Â Just putting it out.
 @Repoman    @PlayanekesÂ
Which is why teachers carry guns. As a last resort.
EVERY SCHOOL IN AMERICA HAS HAD A PLAN SINCE COLUMBINE. AND WHAT GOOD DOES THAT DO IF SOMEONE IS DETERMINED ENOUGH THAT THEY'RE GOING TO COMMIT CARNAGE? THE ONLY PLAN, AND I TRULY MEAN THE "ONLY" PLAN, IS IF THE PRINCIPAL, AND SEVERAL OTHER SCHOOL EMPLOYEES HAVE CHL, AND THEY ARE CARRYING, WHEN THEY SEE SOMEONE COMING INTO THE SCHOOL WITH A GUN. THEN, AND ONLY THEN, BEFORE THE SICK &%$# CAN SQUEEZE OFF ONE ROUND, THEY PUT ONE RIGHT BETWEEN HIS EYES. PLAN THIS; IF YOU ARE SEEN WALKING ON TO SCHOOL PROPERTY WITH A GUN, YOU CAN BE SHOT ON SIGHT, AND THOSE DOING THE PROTECTING OF THE STUDENTS WOULD NOT FACE PROSECUTION. ONLY THEN, WILL THAT KIND OF PLAN ACTUALLY WORK. YA KNOW..MINORITY REPORT WAS JUST A SCI-FI MOVIE, BUT HOW FAR AWAY ARE WE FROM DEVELOPING AND USING THE TECHNOLOGY TO IDENTIFY THOSE BEFORE THEY ACT, TO PROTECT THE INNOCENT? HOW MANY MORE OF THESE HORRIFIC EVENTS WILL THIS COUNTRY FACE BEFORE MORE PEOPLE ARE CLAMORING FOR JUST SUCH TECHNOLOGY. PROACTIVE BEATS REACTIVE EVERY TIME.
 @KillsGermsOnContact ~  In re "seeing someone walk into the school with a gun".... the guy in Conn. had 2 handguns with him (no doubt concealed in pockets or holsters)... the rifle would've been visible, but he left that in his car.  So how do you deal with someone coming in with weapons that you can't see without (a) a metal detector/scanner or (b) strip searching the person..?
Not being critical...just asking...
I'm going to get jumped on for even mentioning this but I think it's time to arm the teachers as well as bus drivers.
 @noneofyourbizzness As a teacher I am NOT carrying a gun.
 @my2cents  @noneofyourbizzness ~  my2cents, I think that would need to be a decision left to each teacher; and certainly NO one should ever be pressured to do something like that if they do not want to do it.  Â
I do think, though, that there should be armed and properly trained people on our school campuses, who can respond effectively in these types of emergencies. Â Â Whether these people are school personnel, police, or private security services would probably depend mostly on each community's needs and resources.
 @noneofyourbizzness Hey, I personally don't think that is unreasonable. PARTICULARLY bus and MAX drivers.
 @noneofyourbizzness Or at least armed campus police. I know I had a great campus police officer in high school, can't recall if she was armed or not.
 @pdxd  @noneofyourbizzness When I worked in summer school at Roosevelt High School 15 or more years ago the campus security police were not armed.  But they probably could have stopped anything.
@pdxd @noneofyourbizzness well, I never hurt anybody but I can tell you our instances of riding bikes through the library, scaling buildings to see what was on the roof, and running from campus security just because they were there ended abruptly when they were taken over by actual OSP troopers. As to your high school officer, you shouldn't KNOW whether that person is armed because as soon as you do you've identified your first target.
@noneofyourbizzness at least some number of uniformed personnel. Not all of them, but enough that a shooter doesn't know who, which or how many.
 @Playanekes Just said the same thing on another thread. Minimum of six teachers, not just armed, but trained, per school.
 @SerenityWowz  @Lips  @noneofyourbizzness What I like here is that people are talking about things that WORK that has nothing to do with hyperbole about arming all the kids, or arming ALL of the teachers.A guy just has to know that if he walks into a school with a gun he better have eyes on the back of his head because there will be no 5-10 minutes before the police show up.