Lead-Deadwood High School- Lead, SD
Just prior to their departure for Thanksgiving break, 66 Lead-Deadwood High School students spent 15 minutes learning a new tactic to respond to violent intruder situations. A.L.I.C.E. (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evaluate), a new nationwide trend and response in regard to violence, was rolled out at Lead-Deadwood High School recently. Lead-Deadwood School Resource Officer Kip Mau conducted three 15-minute rounds of A.L.I.C.E. training for a total of nearly 70 students whose parents gave permission for them to learn a new technique regarding school lockdowns. “Over the past years we have taught our students to lockdown and hide from an intruder. Based on past incidents in our country, we have learned that locking down in place is not the perfect situation for all incidents that occur. Due to new data and research, a new way of protecting our schools has emerged — matching violence with resistance,” said Mau. “As a situation develops, it is possible that students and staff need to use more than one option,” Mau said. “While they should follow the plan and any instructions given during an incident, often they will have to rely on their own judgment to decide which option will best protect them. There is a nationwide shift to this training. It’s not only good for the school setting, but for the workplace in their adult lives, as well.” Lead-Deadwood High School freshman Zak Mau said that during the training he learned that anything can happen any place. “We just need to try to make sure that the intruder can’t hurt anybody else,” said Zak. “It’s just one more tool in their tool belt,” said Lead-Deadwood High School Principal Tony Biesiot. “It’s part of reality now.” Read more
