QCSD officially ‘ALICE Certified’

To become an ALICE certified organization, school staff had to complete an online training session, participate in active shooter drills and implement ALICE procedures into emergency protocols.
Posted on 10/12/2020

Certificate that says Quakertown Community School District is ALICE certified.

By Gary Weckselblatt

Quakertown Community School District has officially become an “ALICE Certified Organization.”

ALICE stands for Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter and Evacuate. Each area is a means of survival if there is an active shooter. The program encourages everyone to choose the safest option during a life-threatening situation. To become an ALICE certified organization, school staff had to complete an online training session, participate in active shooter drills and implement ALICE procedures into emergency protocols.

The ALICE philosophy, which the district adopted and began implementing in the summer of 2015, is to use technology and information in a way that staff and students can make informed decisions in a crisis, remove as many people as possible from the danger zone, and provide realistic training so those involved in a crisis have a better chance of surviving. Students in each grade receive some form of training.

“Even though we’re in the midst of a pandemic, we’ve been keeping our eye on student, staff and faculty safety,” Superintendent Dr. Bill Harner said. “ALICE has developed proven strategies, and this certificate shows that we have had consistent training throughout our buildings with the most updated ALICE processes.”

Assistant Superintendent Nancianne Edwards, the district’s Safety Coordinator, Strayer Middle School Principal Dr. Jennifer Bubser, Quakertown Community High School Assistant Principal Jason Magditch and QCSD’s School Resource Officers, Bob Lee and Brian Hendrzak, comprised the district’s ALICE Committee to update policies for each building to meet safety requirements.

Eighty-eight percent of teachers, support staff, bus drivers, cafeteria workers and maintenance employees all took part in role playing scenarios involving an active shooter, Officer Lee said. “The same principles have been taught to each school,” he said. “We haven’t let our guard down. We’re continuing our training throughout the school year.”

Gary Weckselblatt, QCSD Director of Communications, writes about the people and the programs that impact the Quakertown Community School District. He can be reached at [email protected].


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