THE
HARBINGER
issue three october 3 2006
CODE RED: How ready are we? by [paige cornwell]
S
tudents sat at their desks during a blockscheduling seminar, listening to their teachers, studying, or day dreaming. Then, a voice came over the intercom: This is a code red drill. Everything changed. Lights were turned off, blinds were shut, teachers locked their doors and students moved from their desks to the floor, over to a spot away from the doors and window, over to where they weren’t visible to the imaginary intruder.. Administrators walked around the school, making sure that no one was visible from the hallway.
TURN:TO
49 DAYS TO
THANKSGIVING
According to SRO John Belzer, East’s code red drill went reasonably well. “The staff had prior notice, what time it was at, and they had maximum order over the students, so that contributed to it going well,” Betzer said. It had been the first code red in a few years. Kansas requires fire and tornado drills, but not code red drills. The code red drill occurred less than a week before the Dawson College shooting in Montreal, where one woman was shot to death and 19 others were injured by a 25 yearold-man who walked into the school and started a shooting rampage.
COLLEGE CLINIC East hosts college from near and far at biggest fair in region October 11. 3
“We are supposed to do them on a consistent basis, but it is typically reviewed by the staff so they know what to do,” assistant principal Dr. Ron Mersch said. “Since we have more staff members this year and we want to work closely with the Prairie Village police department, we had the opportunity to do it again.” The school was dark and locked within a few minutes, according to Mersch, who is in charge of security. Both Betzer and Mersch think that the code red drill, for the most part, is an efficient way to prepare students. “The plan that they have is a good plan,” Betzer said.
FALL TV PREVIEW From crime fighters to gamewinning touchdowns, see what’s on TV this fall. 14
continued on page 7
SOCCER SENIORS Senior soccer players finish the season and prepare for their careers in college. 20
photo by taylery phillips. photo illustration by derek martin