Dear Parents,
The recent tragedies in Kentucky and Florida schools are incomprehensible. We hold the victims and all those impacted in our hearts and prayers. Concern for student safety is always our highest priority, and we are continuously challenged to review and revise our procedures. There is no perfect set of rules or procedures, but law enforcement personnel and safety specialists identify best practices to help make our schools as safe as possible. Best practices also need to be considered within each school environment and this, too, is an ongoing process.
Our community is blessed with the Evansville Police Department and the Vanderburgh County Sheriff Department who are both deeply committed to school safety. I have worked with many schools in many communities throughout the state of Indiana, and no other that I know of compares to the services and care provided for us in this community. I am deeply grateful for all they do and have personally benefited from their expert consultation and experienced the benefits of their investigative and assertive action to keep students safe.
The state of Indiana is also known throughout the country to have one of the best school safety training academies in the country. This program has been in existence for almost 20 years. Through the Indiana Department of Education, they continue to provide updated training and resources for schools. Many administrators and teachers in the diocese have been trained, including some from Memorial, over the years. At the present time, we have one school safety specialist on staff and intend to increase that number when the next class begins.
Since my first day at Memorial, I have observed our building practices and procedures and listened carefully to staff, students and parents as I have considered changes in order for the school to operate more effectively and efficiently. I want to share some things that have been accomplished with the help of Mr. Browning and other staff members, as well as some of our plans for this week and beyond.
In the past eighteen months, the camera system has been checked and repairs have been made. Access to the cameras has been expanded to additional personnel in different offices throughout the building. Monthly drills have taken place with debriefing among administrators following each. The state fire inspector was here last spring, and all needed corrections were made.
Parents who have visited since Christmas have noticed that the main reception area is now in the front lobby. The desk is equipped with camera screens and allows the front doors to also be viewed. Visitors are asked to sign in, and the new procedure is to escort visitors to and from the locations they are visiting during the school day.
On January 3, the staff participated in active shooter training with members of the Evansville Police Department. This included a presentation and classroom drill in which staff members were challenged to “problem solve” and strategize what to do in the case of an active shooter. Teachers then shared information with students. We do realize the need to repeat and expand the information given to students and have immediate plans to do this. We will also continue to review scenarios and safety strategies with staff.
Due to the threat in the area last Friday, the EPD provided an experienced officer to be onsite early in the day before students arrived and stayed to advise us as school began. The EPD investigated the local threat and informed us as the source was traced and the suspect was apprehended. We enhanced supervision in and around the building and intend to continue this.
Beginning Tuesday, February 20, all students must enter the building in the morning through the front door or athletic office. All other entrances will be locked down in the morning and throughout the day to keep strangers from entering the building. Students are repeatedly told not to let anyone in the building at any time, and this will be reinforced. We ask all parents to also reinforce this at home. With the announcements this morning, I informed students about the
restricted entrance to the building.
This week I will be meeting with at least two of my student advisory groups and any other student who makes a request to talk to me. A faculty meeting is scheduled after school on Wednesday, and we will have an assembly on Thursday or Friday to discuss school safety. We will continue to update you on any other changes that are made as we update practices and procedures.
In the meantime, parents can help by doing the following:
- Remind your children of the importance of following school rules and include specifically the directive not to let anyone in through the locked doors.
- Contact one of the administrators or counselors if you are concerned about your child’s anxiety.
- Be observant around the school building and report any concerns to a school administrator. “If you see something, say something,” and encourage your children to do the same.
- Continue to talk with your children about the appropriate use of social media and monitoring for any communications that might be harmful to anyone.
As always, let us continue to keep our children and each other in prayer, especially during this Lenten season.
Blessings and peace,
Marie Williams, Ph.D
Principal
