MASON, Mich. — Mason Public Schools always prioritizes student and staff safety. Throughout this school year, the District is completing extensive training utilizing the ALICE approach to safety and security.
On Monday, January 21, district faculty and staff participated in the on-site, hands-on training at Mason High School. ALICE, which stands for Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate is a research-based, proactive approach to responding to an active shooter situation. It has been adopted by businesses, schools and organizations across the nation to prepare employees, staff, students and personnel on how to respond to violent intruder situations.
During this training, participants engaged in live scenarios with local law enforcement. The scenarios could include gun fire from cap guns that look, sound and smell like real guns and evacuation procedures that include yelling/screaming. It is intended to feel like real scenarios that have happened in a school setting, so that staff are as prepared as possible should a security issue arise.
Faculty and staff have already completed a 45-minute online training module. District leadership, central office staff and the Board of Education participated in this on-site training alongside City of Mason staff on November 27.
Next, the District will begin the process to review current lockdown drills for students. Student preparation will involve age-appropriate lessons that have been utilized in other local districts with positive feedback from families. Building principals and administrators will contact families about specific implementation and rollout plans. If you have any questions about the plans for ALICE training, please contact Nick Toodzio, Assistant Principal, Mason High School at toodzion@masonk12.net. For more information regarding ALICE, please visit the ALICE Training Institute at www.alicetraining.com.
