The Clinton School District is One of Many Across the State Reevaluating Security

School district officials across Mississippi remain vigilant and  are evaluating security policies  and procedures in the wake of the deadly shooting at an elementary school in Connecticut.  MPB's Lawayne Childrey reports the Clinton Public School District in Hinds County is one of  4  in the country this year to receive Readiness and Emergency Management training.

It's a typical day at Eastside Elementary School in Clinton. But if an attack similar to what happened in Connecticut  happened in the Clinton Public School District, Communications Director Sandi Beason says they are ready to spring into action. 

" Over the last year we have updated the crisis management plans at all of our schools. We regularly conduct drills and training exercises and all of our faculty have undergone online training and crisis management through FEMA. We have a number of  measures are planned to take place this next year as part of a grant for crisis management."

School Principal, Cindy Hamil says one of the training  programs includes dealing with an active shooter.

"We actually even had hostages being held by the pretend active shooter. This was done for teachers and administrators and we pretended that the children were at the school but we had actual police officers come in and we went through it as if it were a real live problem."

Clinton school officers are trained to be alert to their environment at all times. Officer Al Kimble of the Clinton Police department is also the schools resource officer.

"Rather than just walking around thing is wonderful, everybody's nice everybody's lovely. You know you never expect it to happen but it does.  And so what would I do in this situation. How would I handle it if it really happened? I would have to do this, I would have to stay calm, I would have to approach it this way. With the little kids and the ones that I get to know and hangout with and mentor and stuff like that it makes a big difference."   

School officials say during violent incidents  it's important for parents to talk with their children regularly and watch for signs of stress, anxiety and fear. Lawayne Childrey. MPB News.

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