KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — After much debate, the ALICE active shooter trainings will resume at Kalamazoo Public Schools.
On Thursday the board voted to conduct the trainings at the 9 remaining schools in the district.
At past meetings some parents claimed that the trainings were traumatizing their students but in Thursday night’s meeting more parents and even students voiced their opinions in favor of the trainings.
Interim Superintendent Gary Start said the trainings must be conducted by December 1st according to the state. Trustee Tandy Moore, who strongly opposes the trainings, argued that it only has to be a lock down by the 1st and not an ALICE training. She added that the data on the ALICE model is also still missing.
Start explained that the trainings have been adjusted thanks to the input from concerned parents. For example a picture of a gun in a backpack and other images have been removed from the presentation, the training will be taught in an assembly form rather than in separate classrooms, parents can now view the presentation on KPS’ website and opt out their student if they’d like, and the language in the elementary trainings have been adjusted.
Back in September the board approved a motion to suspend ALICE trainings until more community input was given.
After a public forum and some changes to the current trainings the board agreed that they can resume and passed it on a 6-1 vote. Trustee Moore was the only no vote.
— ORIGINAL STORY —
KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — The Kalamazoo Public Schools Board of Education will be making a decision in a meeting Thursday on whether ALICE training will continue in the district.
ALICE is an acronym that stands for alert, lockdown, inform, counter and evacuate, and is meant to train students on what to do in an active shooter situation.
Following a controversial response upon its initial run of sessions, the school district halted training until more input from parents and other concerned parties could be received.
At this time, nine schools in the district have yet to complete the training.
The matter will be voted on during a meeting of the Board of Education of the Kalamazoo Public Schools, which will take place Thursday, November 7, 2019 at 7:00 p.m.
The Administration Building is located at 1220 Howard Street, Kalamazoo, MI 49008.
