MONTPELIER, Vt. -
Parents, we completely understand it may have been a little harder to drop your kids off at school today, but we're here to assure you the state of Vermont has a plan.
Sadly unthinkable tragedies like the Sandy Hook massacre make us take a closer look at the plans that are in place. Vermont has had one in effect since 1998. It changes with the times and technology, and may change again after today.
"Kindergarten children, first grade kids, the lights are on and shining brightly and woe-be anybody who dims those lights," Ken Page of the Vermont Principals' Association said.
Friday was a dark day. The heart wrenching Sandy Hook massacre has captivated the nation, and no doubt has moms and dads asking what safety procedures are in place. I sat down with the Chair of Vermont's School Crisis Planning Team to find out what those are.
"Close the blinds, turn off the lights, get student out of the way," Chairman Stephen Earley said.
That's part of the plan... the key is to practice.
Earley said, "the quicker the action and the better the action's taken, the safer people will be."
The School Crisis Planning Team is a volunteer organization. Every month, educators, and law enforcement get together to review procedures and teacher training. Teachers at Sandy Hook have been hailed as heroes.
"When I saw the steps that the teachers took, it was the right thing," Earley said.
A lot of modifications have been made to the inside of schools as well. From locks to surveillance cameras, there's extra security all across the nation today.
"But it can't just be today, it's got to be all the time," Page said.
But still, schools statistically are one of the safest places for children to be.
Experts say another key component is to include first responders in on the plan.
