Any time our nation goes through a senseless tragedy like the recent school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, schools across the country experience a ripple effect. Whether they like it or not, they’re faced with some big questions: What are we doing do prevent an event like this? How would we respond? Are we doing enough to protect our students?
Marietta Public Schools has invested in the protection of students and employees in many ways, beginning with planning and training.
Assistant High School Principal Ron Norman, chair of the district’s safety committee, said that the state-mandated safety plan includes preparation for an active shooter on campus. Additionally, teachers, administrators, and support personnel have been through active shooter training, and the district uses drills to teach students how to respond to a threat.
“We do our best to prepare for everything, but we know we can’t prevent everything,” Norman said. “We can only do the best we can to train teachers and students how to respond, but at the same time, we want our students to feel safe at school. It’s a balancing act.”
According to Norman, the safety plan is an instrument upon which frequent changes are made. He, members of the safety committee, other administrators, and School Resource Officer Jeremy Hartman are constantly assessing and reassessing things the district can do to improve safety practices.
Parts of the district’s safety plan are rooted in technology, while others are more common-sense approaches.
One of the common-sense approaches is that both Norman and Hartman walk many miles daily while school is in session, checking to make sure that interior and exterior doors are kept locked, and, in Hartman’s case, to make sure that he is seen in uniform around campus.
“I’m always walking, watching entrances and exits, checking vehicles to make sure they’re tagged and marked, visible during passing periods and parent drop-offs, and always in full uniform with radio and cell phone, so I’m easy to reach,” Hartman said. “The step counter on my phone says I walk eight to ten miles daily. I’ve actually walked the soles off a pair of boots and lost 20 pounds this year.”
Studies show that the mere presence of a uniformed officer is often a deterrent to criminal acts, so Hartman strives to make his presence known on campus.
He also preaches awareness to teachers and staff, encouraging them to watch for things that are out of place or suspicious, and if they see something, to report it immediately. Believing that communication is key, Hartman is working to procure systems that allow teachers to access him quickly and directly.
Additionally, both Norman and Hartman learn all they can about situations like the one in Uvalde, hoping to find something that will allow them to improve the school’s safety plan.
“In law enforcement, one way you can get better is to learn from the mistakes of others,” explained Hartman, “so we find out all we can about what happens in situations like Uvalde, and we use that information to improve our preparations. We’re trying to develop a mindset of safety-consciousness.”