A Minnesota high school student shot and killed nine people March 23 in the largest incidence of school violence since the 1999 Columbine school shooting. Jeff Weise used his grandfather's police-issued shotgun and a pistol to shoot his way past a metal detector and an unarmed guard. In the aftermath, local school districts have not changed their security or weapons policies.
Students at Athens City and Alexander Local school districts were on spring break at the time of the shooting. Despite the tragic events in Minnesota, life at the local high schools has continued as normal.
It's just really scary. I don't really think there's any reason to worry about it happening here. It's a tragedy that it happened anywhere
said Athens High School student Roman Suer.
It was a little scary to think that things like that can happen in a place where you're supposed to feel safe said Rachel Luce, also an Athens High School student.
Both Suer and Luce said they felt safe at school.
Because the shooting occurred during spring break, Athens and Alexander high schools did not discuss the event as a student body; however, school officials said teachers might have discussed the event in individual classes.
Both Athens and Alexander high schools rely on technology to help monitor school campuses. Alexander Local School District Superintendent Robert Bray said that teachers and employees swipe ID badges to enter locked school doors during school hours. The combined elementary, middle and high school campus at Alexander is monitored by security cameras that school secretaries can view from the reception desks.
The most difficult security is high school students because they sign in and out during the day Bray said.
Athens High School has 16 security cameras, Principal Mike Meek said.
We also have a 'roamer' who roams and spots anything they see as unusual
Meek said. We also use search and seizure procedures. If something isn't right
we search them and the cars. Meek said that he conducts these searches.
The administration is always in the hallways
teachers are very observant
and students are very observant. If someone is disgruntled or upset
they'll bring it to us. Everyone takes ownership in our school
Meek said.
Both school districts also have plans for lock-down, if necessary. Bray said Alexander schools use a code word for lock-down. During lock-down, doors between the elementary, middle and high school buildings lock, and only secretaries can buzz people into the front doors of each of the schools. Bray said the campus had done drills but said he did not think they had locked everyone down.
Meek said that Athens High School has procedures in place for evacuation and has had a lock-down plan for nine years.
Athens County Sheriff Vern Castle said the Sheriff's department is the primary source of law enforcement for all the local schools. Castle also said the Sheriff's department is the only law enforcement for the Athens High School and Alexander Local School campuses.
Anything that the schools ask for we try to do. Anything that they need we try to supply
Castle said.
The policy regarding weapons at both school districts is zero-tolerance.
In Ohio
you can be expelled up to a year if you have a weapon
