50 Council Rock Staffers Taking Active Shooter Response Training

NEWTOWN, PA — Council Rock School District has released some additional information about a $20,000 state grant it has received to increase school safety.

According to information from the district, the money will be used to pay for 50 staff members to receive comprehensive ALICE training this month. ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate) prepares school districts to handle the threat of an active shooter, the district explained.

According to the district, the 50 ALICE trainees will undergo a two-day, hands-on training that will make them ALICE certified. They will then train the rest of the district staff in the ALICE technique on Nov. 6, which is Council Rock's next professional development day.

"Council Rock will also utilize grant funds for full district access to ALICE's E-Learning component, ensuring that all individuals trained have a baseline understanding of the ALICE safety strategy," the district explained in an email to the school community.

Last week, State Rep. Helen Tai, who represents a portion of the district, announced Council Rock had received the money.

"Thank you Council Rock School District for making the effort to successfully apply for this competitive grant to provide a safer learning environment for our students," Tai said in a statement. "School districts and governments at all levels need to continue to work together to promote programs like these to address and prevent violence in schools across the district and commonwealth."

The funding comes from the state Department of Education's Safe Schools Targeted Grant program. Several other Safe School programs also awarded grants that were announced this week, including equipment grants, and grants for school police officers and school resource officers.

In Bucks County, Pennsbury and Bensalem received a grant through the program. Bensalem will use the funds to pay for a new school resource officer.

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