2008 Woodie Awards
DVC vulnerable in case of a school shooting
Instructors unable to lock classroom doors
Jeremy Frederickson
Issue date: 4/18/08 Section: News
An 81-page, "Immediate Action and Event Specific Checklists (August 2007) - available on the district's website - calls for faculty and staff to "lock or barricade windows and doors" in the event of a campus shooting.
Guy Grace, DVC's buildings and grounds manager, estimated last week it would cost about $400 per lock to buy and install double-cylinder locks that could secure doors from inside or outside the classroom.
The job could be completed campus-wide in as soon as three months, he said.
DVC President Judy Walters said there has been no discussion about installing locks on classroom doors.
"I would want to have a very thoughtful conversation with people before I would institute something like that," she said.
Although Reeves said later his fears have been assuaged, he warned of the consequences of inaction.
"If we don't establish an effective warning system, there's a consequence," he said. "Some students won't live to succeed.
"DVC, the district, the educational community need to adapt to this new world quickly."
Guy Grace, DVC's buildings and grounds manager, estimated last week it would cost about $400 per lock to buy and install double-cylinder locks that could secure doors from inside or outside the classroom.
The job could be completed campus-wide in as soon as three months, he said.
DVC President Judy Walters said there has been no discussion about installing locks on classroom doors.
"I would want to have a very thoughtful conversation with people before I would institute something like that," she said.
Although Reeves said later his fears have been assuaged, he warned of the consequences of inaction.
"If we don't establish an effective warning system, there's a consequence," he said. "Some students won't live to succeed.
"DVC, the district, the educational community need to adapt to this new world quickly."
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