“Fortunately, we have offered various training to both managers and teachers, more specifically ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter and Evacuate) training to principals and staff ... especially since ALICE training has been credited with making a significant positive impact after (the April 10) shooting,” said district spokeswoman, Maria Garcia, in an email.
More than a year ago, a teacher and a counselor took part in the specialized training, which focuses on how to survive an active shooter event, said San Bernardino School Police Officer Eric Vetere, the safety and emergency manager for the San Bernardino City Unified School District.
The entire district participated in active shooter simulations in June 2013 and again on Jan. 29, 2015.
“They were certified as trainers and in turn came back to their school site and trained other teachers and staff,” he said.
District officials have been using the ALICE platform for their training since just after the San Bernardino terrorist attack on Dec. 2, 2015, in which 14 people were killed at the Inland Regional Center.
On April 10, Cedric Anderson signed in at the office of North Park Elementary, walked into the classroom of his estranged wife, teacher Karen Smith, and without a word, opened fire on Smith, killing her and student Jonathan Martinez, 8, and wounding Nolan Brandy, 9.
“The training is geared toward civilians, for schools and teachers,” Vetere said. “It’s not how police respond. It’s meant to teach civilians how to protect themselves and not just curl themselves under the desk and be a victim.”
Part of the 16-hour training includes real-life scenarios, including what to do inside a classroom if someone begins firing on campus and how to effectively escape.
“They are actually fleeing from a classroom that’s under attack, they’re learning how to protect themselves, they’re throwing things at an attacker. It’s not just a sit and get training,” Vetere said.
Although lauded by some in the district, Jennifer Downing, the teacher’s aide who shared a classroom with Smith and managed to lead nine students to safety when the gunfire began, said she was not offered training, but she hoped that oversight would be rectified in the coming weeks.
Despite mandates that specify how often California schools must have earthquake and fire drills, there are no such guidelines for active shooter training.
“There is no legal guidance for lockdown, lockout active shooter drills, so I think making these things a little more mandatory would help,” Vetere said.
Despite not having concrete guidelines, Vetere said the district participates in regular training.
“We probably visit at least a school a week going over emergency and disaster response plans,” he said. The district is made up of 80 school sites.
In the days following the shooting, most schools are still healing and dealing with the aftermath, Vetere said, but he expects his department will receive more requests for training in the coming days and weeks.
“Our entire system has been impacted by this,” Vetere said. “I think everybody is in the process of recovering and trying to figure out what our new normal will be. We will have emergency response conversations going on districtwide. Right now, we’ve been very busy focusing on North Park.”
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