In light of the tragedies at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, incidents at other schools around the nation and a recent threat at Adelante High School, RJUHSD administrators are reviewing and seeking to improve emergency procedure protocol.

According to RJUHSD superintendent Ron Severson, there have been three separate incidents on RJUHSD campuses involving guns during the 2017-18 school year. However, on each occasion individuals took weapons to school with the sole intent to sell or show off the weapons, not to harm.

In an effort to better prepare for a threat on campus, Roseville High School maintenance began installing Lock Bloks in the portables a week and half ago. These $10 devices allow doors to remain locked throughout the day without impeding students from from entering or leaving. Lock Bloks prop the locked door open but can close the door by simply sliding a stopper.

According to RHS assistant principal Jason Wilson, teachers were concerned they would have to exit the classroom and lock the door from the outside, putting them and their students at risk. The Lock Bloks were put to test Friday when an Adelante High School student discovered a message written in a bathroom stall suggesting that somebody planned to shoot up the school and Roseville High School underwent a “shelter-in-place” safety procedure in response.

Wilson believes the Lock Bloks will address teachers’ concerns for classroom safety.

“In the case of a lockdown having to step outside of the classroom door to lock the door puts [the teacher] out in the open,” Wilson said. “They just slide it over, pull the door shut and it’s locked.”
English teacher Stuart Smith believes the Lock Bloks serve as a necessary addition to the safety of classrooms.

“This was a small, positive step that addresses a specific aspect of school security,” Smith said.

Wilson expects the school to install Lock Bloks in the rest of the classrooms on campus once the teachers in the portables come to an agreement of their value.

According to RHS principal David Byrd, current protocol for “active shooter” situations calls for immediate lockdown upon knowledge of a threat. Once a lockdown has been initiated, teachers are to lock their doors and keep students inside.

“These are the realities of life,” Byrd said. “Unfortunately everything’s not perfect. Unfortunately these kinds of tragedies happen.”

Byrd encourages students who find themselves locked outside to follow the ‘Run, Hide, Fight’ rules introduced in 2012 by the United States Department of Homeland Security that emphasize the importance of following instincts in a fight or flight situation.

“Sometimes your instincts are going to tell you you need to run,” Byrd said. “If you do that, no one’s going to argue with you, no one’s going to be mad at you, you’re not in trouble, you’re doing what you think you need to do.”

Additionally, Byrd says that administrators are currently exploring the possibility of encouraging students to communicate with their family during lockdowns. This would lighten the restriction on use of electronics during lockdowns.

According to youth services officer Marc Kelley, prevention is the most important step. He believes it is important that students report threatening behavior in order to prevent an “active shooter” situation.

“[The students] are the best intel that we get,” Kelley said. “If you hear that somebody is planning something traumatic at school, whether it’s a school shooting or bombing… it’s important that you notify administration or the police department.”

Kelley believes there is reason for concern of campus security – in particular, the alleyway connecting Las Flores Ave. and Campo St.

“Prior to me [being an officer at RHS] they’ve tried to [secure the alleyway],” Kelley said. “That’s something that’s been brought up again that we’re going to look into.”

On top of solving issues pertaining to access onto campus, Byrd recognizes the importance of kindness among the student body throughout the school as a way of preventing tragedies.

“I give this school high marks for people who care, people who pay attention, people who, if they see something, say something,” Byrd said. “We have to make sure that we all check in on each other and take care of each other.”