Following the tragedy last week at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut, Superintendent of Washington Schools Dr. Mike Jorgenson discussed safety protocol at district buildings with KCII news. Washington schools have preventative measures in place for handling threats to students and staff. The school employs an emergency plan that is annually reviewed with local authorities, security cameras, secured entry ways in two buildings and conducts lockdown drills twice each year with local police. There are two levels of lockdown at Washington schools, they are enacted through code words from staff depending on the severity of the threat. In the first level of lockdown all exterior doors are locked and staff remains diligent. Jorgenson says that the lower level of lockdown had to be utilized due to a vague threat several years ago. In the most serious level of lockdown, staff moves students away from doors and windows into a corner of the room and turns off the lights to give the appearance of an empty classroom. Based on last week’s events in Connecticut, Jorgenson expects to see an emphasis on gun control and school security measures with the potential for federal funds to be allocated to help try to ensure student’s safety.

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