In light of recent school shooting incidents and threats, the Atlantic Middle and Elementary Schools will be conducting more ALICE training, just as they do with Fire and Tornado Warning exercises. Schuler Principal James Northwick and Middle School Principal Josh Rasmussen told the Atlantic School Board during their meeting, Wednesday, that they are working with the Police Department to conduct annual ALICE training. ALICE stands for Alert-Lockdown-Inform-Counter and Evacuate.

Northwick and Rasmussen have been working with Atlantic Police Lt. Devin Hogue and Sgt. Spencer Walton, about running a drill, similar to what was done last year, at the High School. Northwick said at Schuler, it’ll will look like more of a “Glorified fire drill,” with a video and Q&A session afterward. Rassmussen said the District’s staff have all been trained using the ALICE system. The students have fire drills and tornado drills twice each semester. He says it’s up to himself and Northwick to prepare their respective buildings the best they can, to make sure they have a safe environment.

Superintendent Steve Barber said the Iowa House is working on a School Security Bill. Barber said also, that at a recent SIAC (School Improvement Advisory Committee) meeting, they talked about how important communication is when a threat is perceived or real. He said the gist of the meeting, was that “If something looks out of the ordinary we have got to communicate that to the right people and that can be investigated to see if there is a danger or if someone needs help and we can provide that at that time. I think those are some important components to a security plan. Our number one goal is to keep everybody safe.”

School Board member Josh McLaren, who is also a Cass County Sheriff’s Deputy, said law enforcement officers held intruder/active shooter-type exercises Monday and Tuesday, at the Middle School. He said “It’s obviously something that is on our mind as well as educators and administrators and everybody else. From a cop standpoint, we’re trying to stay as prepared as we can.” Yesterday (Wednesday) was designated for a nationwide peaceful walkout to show respect for those who have lost their lives in the Parkland, Florida school shooting. Atlantic Administrators said there were about 30 students who participated in the event, at the High School.