TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) – The Vigo County School Corporation is strengthening its security for this upcoming school year.
VCSC revised its standard response protocol to include more common language for faculty, students and parents to better understand. This standard response protocol is what to know during an emergency. Coordinator of Safety & Security Kurt Brinegar said that they’re currently sending this information throughout VCSC.
Many schools are on high alert after the tragedies that occurred at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas earlier this year. Many were critical of the slow response time by law enforcement during the shooting.
Brinegar said that he’s had discussions with the Vigo County Sheriff’s Office, Terre Haute Police Department and the Indiana State Police. After those conversations, Brinegar said that in an active shooter situation, the on-site school protection officer will take command and have to take out any threats.
“We have given the green light to all school protections officers that they need to take out the threat if there is a threat in that school,” Brinegar explained. “That means that they’re in charge in that minute.”
Brinegar said that this will reduce any delays in a potential response.
The corporation has at least one SPO stationed at all of its schools and plans to reinforce its ‘lock door’ policy this year.
“You cannot get into our schools unless a school protection officer lets you in. That’s a person that’s going to let you in who has a badge and a gun,” Brinegar said.
The start of school is just around the corner meaning that parents are gearing up to send their kids back to school. Vigo County resident Jeff Newton has grandkids in the area and said that he has no fear in sending them back to school.
“I put my faith in God, local law enforcement and in our teachers who’ll keep them safe,” Newton said.
For parents who may have some hesitancy about sending their kids to school, Brinegar assured that school is the safest place for them.
“School is still the safest place for children,” Brinegar said. “They’re safer at school than they are at home, you may not think that but that’s the truth.”
