Waukee Schools, Police Have Plans in Place to Keep Kids Safe

The deadly school shooting last week at ., had some Waukee Schools parents asking questions about plans for their children's safety, say officials.

Police and school officials practice security lockdowns a couple times a year, and crisis plans are in place, although details aren't discussed publicly to preserve safety.

But precautions include keeping doors locked - except front doors - during school hours, requiring visitors to check in at offices before entering buildings, and every Waukee school building has security cameras monitoring events.

Officer Scott Cunningham with the Waukee Police Department has been the school resource officer at the high school for six years. He said students weren't talking about the Newtown shooting in the halls on Monday.

While reaction nationally has focused on whether the country's mental health system needs an overhaul or gun control legislation should be enacted, Cunningham said he has no prescription for a quick fix.

"Safety is a big concern and I think parents need to know both the school district and Waukee Police Department are working well together to make sure kids are in a safe environment," Cunningham said. "I like our district, they're very concerned about kids' safety. They're very pro-active."

A note from Waukee Schools Superintendent Dave Wilkerson in the most recent school bulletin says the district will again review safety measures in light of the tragedy that killed 20 Connecticut students and six adults. The review will consult area law enforcement agencies plus the Dallas County Emergency Management services.

District Communications Coordinator Nicole Lawrence said parents have asked questions about crisis plans in the last week, and they appreciate the district acknowledging their worries.

"They are glad to know we have procedures in place," Lawrence said. "For the safety of their kids, we can't share the exact details in placem but we do have them."

The last incident that prompted a lockdown in the Waukee district was a couple years ago, Cunningham said. Eason Elementary was locked down because a young man was shooting bulldfrogs at a creek close to the school in nearby Clive.

"You don't know that at time, you hear shots. It went really well, the staff did a great job locking the building down really quick," Cunningham said.

Maple Grove Elementary Principal Doug Barry wrote a message to his school's parents on Facebook Sunday that encouraged them to reach out with questions, and offered resources for handling those difficult conversations with students.

"It will not be our intention to initiate conversation about the shootings, but rather to respond to student questions and concerns individually that might come up. … We will also be directing students with concerns to speak with their parents at home. If students begin to share information for all of the class to hear, it will be our plan to reassure the students that school is a safe place. Depending on the age group of the students and the conversations being heard, this could be addressed in a class meeting as well," Barry wrote.

Helpful Resources
National Education Association and Health Information Network. It addresses how important it is to have a developmentally appropriate response to comments and questions. 

Love and Logic website. Urges limiting the exposure of children to media coverage of the event, but parents must assure kids they are safe.