How to prevent school shootings tomorrow

By David Krass
Can you imagine your child not coming home from his or her school due to a shooting?
Legislators across the nation have increased efforts to tackle this dilemma. While parents wait with bated breath for solutions, the question is raised, “What can we do now?”
I feel a passive approach using the existing fire evacuation protocols would divert the gunman from our classroom, protecting our children, without requiring major construction or massive costs.
Filling schools with metal detectors, surveillance cameras, police officers and armed personnel tells students that schools are dangerous and violent places, where harm is expected and unavoidable. Schools should be places for learning and growth, not prison-like buildings with armed guards at the doors.
When we discuss methods of prevention, costs must be addressed. To arm West Virginia’s schools, conservative numbers estimate it would take more than $700,000 in initial costs alone. An additional $201,010 yearly would be needed for the 755 schools within our state for maintenance and training.
Metal detectors were also discussed in a plan to make schools safer. Not only does this equipment give a cold presence but it also impedes student traffic into the building. The cost of this endeavor would amount to $18,250 per school to protect one entrance. Larger schools would need more units to cover all entrances.
My proposal for a modified fire drill would be less than a penny per student and could be completed overnight. Minimal modification to fire activation systems would be necessary to provide a master switch to activate the fire doors. The students in the classrooms would have the ability to open the door from within, but no access is provided to the shooter automatically.
Existing fire doors are normally metal, so modifications would not be necessary to the structure. Installation of impact locks (a lock that engages when the door is closed) to all fire and classroom doors would be applied. These locks are cheap and easy to install.
Out of concern for impeding firefighters’ access, I discussed these locks with a local fire department that found no fault in the design or operation of altering the fire doors.
Based on building regulations, a minimum of one exit to the outside is provided between every fire door. Once corridor fire doors close, exit signs light up pre-existing emergency exits in every corridor, providing a quick escape. The corridors are segmented into locked sections allowing an exit to the exterior of the school.
In the event of a shooter, the doors would close and lock, thus confining the gunman to a single corridor or a single exit with no access to students.
With slight alterations to the classic fire drill, students would evacuate via the closest possible exit instead of the single file march to the main entrances. The purpose for this alteration is reducing stress to students and confusion about the new protocols.
This passive approach reduces confusion and allows time for help to arrive in a protected environment. Normal response time for police is within three to five minutes where the length of school shootings is less than two minutes. With this simple, inclusive plan, students can practice a drill they have memorized since kindergarten and protect themselves from the dangers of today.
My proposal is divided into two steps — altering fire drills and modifying doors to better protect our children.
By slightly altering existing doors and action plans, I feel the changes would be cost-effective, quick and cause little to no change in the daily operations of our schools. No matter if it is bullying, fear, mental illnesses or seeking notoriety that motivates the gunman, there is no way to prevent the next attack. We can, however, prevent the loss of life.
As a father, I sour at the thought of my child being hurt. As a registered nurse, I dread the call of mass casualties in my community, and as an American, I fear we have not seen the end of preventable school shootings.
Action must be taken immediately to reduce the violence inflicted during these attacks. I believe legislators will eventually come up with a way to effectively stop shootings, but until then we need a solution now.
DAVID KRASS is a graduate student, father and a registered nurse at J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital. This commentary should be considered another point of view and not necessarily the opinion or editorial policy of The Dominion Post.