- Big Lake Schools
- What does Big Lake Schools do to Keep Students Safe?
- ALICE Active Shooter Training
ALICE
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ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate) is a proactive, action-based system and set of guidelines that empowers staff to get students away from danger, specifically related to active-shooter emergencies.
Students and staff are trained (using developmentally appropriate methods) on what to do in these types of emergencies.
In coordination with Sherburne County and the Big Lake Police Department, Big Lake Schools complete 5 drills per year in each building.
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What is ALICE?
ALICE is an easy to remember acronym that stands for:
A - Alert: When school personnel are first told about a current threat.
L - Lockdown: School personnel barricade the room to buy time and prepare for any potential next steps.
I - Inform: School administration and law enforcement are in constant communication with the rest of the school building, providing clear updates in real-time. This information is used to aid decision-making.
C - Counter: This step is used as a last resort, and involves creating distractions to help allow for evacuation. This does not involve fighting or confrontation.
E - Evacuate: Once it is safe to do so, students and staff will be evacuated.
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ALICE Training for Staff and Students
Staff: New staff attend a one-hour training session prior to the beginning of the school year. In addition, all staff review building procedures and conduct drills to practice the implementation of the ALICE protocols each year.
Early Childhood & Elementary Students: As part of the “Be Safe” instruction, students learn that adults are the safekeepers of the classroom. Teachers work with students on calming techniques as a regular part of the school day, and most classrooms engage in calming techniques following a drill. These youngest hornets only have drills in “secure mode”, but are taught about the ALICE procedures bi-annually. This Social Story presentation is used to assist teaching early childhood and elementary students about being safe.
Middle & High School Students: Teachers take students through a common slide presentation, including videos teaching them about the ALICE protocols prior to each drill. The presentation allows time for students to reflect, process, and identify any concerns they may have.
