Preparing for Something They Hope Never Happens

North Bend High School- North Bend, OR

There will be more than just students walking the halls in North Bend schools this fall as the district plans for a greater police presence on local campuses. When police are not present, schools have another way to protect themselves. Since last fall, North Bend students and staff have been using the ALICE training program. “Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter and Evacuate; and the goal of the program is to provide a range of options for staff and students to use in a crisis situation,” says North Bend High School Principal Bill Lucero. “Whether it’s running, whether it’s [Counter], we want people to stop hiding under their desks or looking at hiding under their desks as their only option,” adds Kappelman. Lucero says most schools on the south coast are now using the ALICE program. “We’ll continue to train and prepare for something that we hope never happens,” says Lucero. Kappelman says these aren’t just temporary measures; they’re long term changes. Read more