Copper School Runs Lock-Down Drill

On Tuesday morning, 3-29-11, Resident Deputy Newnam, Deputy Dorsey, MTUESD Operations Manager Bill Davis, MTUESD Superintendent Julia Tidball, and MTUESD lead custodian Jill Douglass, organized and implemented a surprise lock-down drill for the faculty and students of Copperopolis Elementary School.

Lock-downs are a procedure that is put in place to ensure the safety of the children should an intruder or danger enter the campus. According to Mr. Davis all faculty attended an in-service day prior to the beginning of the school year covering everything from earthquakes to fires, from shooter to suspicious persons. Fire drills are completed monthly whereas lock-down-drills are conducted yearly. All teachers have an emergency ‘bucket’ in their room containing water, protein bars, flashlight, tarp, and other safety supplies.

When the alarm sounded each teacher quickly locked their doors, and proceeded to follow the guidelines set up to protect and hide the children within their classroom, all the while keeping them away from the windows. The campus was sealed in less than four minutes. All exterior gates were locked, all bathrooms were checked, the playground was cleared and the children and faculty were safely ensconced behind locked doors.

When the drill was complete the announcement was made over the loudspeaker and the cheering of little voices could be heard behind the previously silent walls of the classrooms.

One parent showed up on the scene a few moments prior to the drill and was briefed on what was happening; she was extremely grateful that they (the staff and local law enforcement) were making her child’s school a safe place.

Deputy Chris Dorsey has been with the CCSO for 5 years and wears the uniform of the Bomb Squad. He attended a special school in Huntsville Alabama to obtain his Bomb training. Working out of the OES department he is coordinating with other schools obtaining maps of their campuses and dates of their drills so that he can be present, placing the school and law enforcement “on the same page…giving them advice and becoming familiar with the campus.”

By, Charity Maness