Author: Tammy Lane • First Posted: Friday, April 10, 2009

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"We have keys that fit all the schools in the city," Officer Keith McAfee said as he gave the all-clear during a lockdown drill at Bryan Station Traditional Magnet School.

When it comes to safety, Fayette County Public School leaders hope that practice makes perfect in the event of an actual emergency. That’s why schools regularly review basic safety points and conduct different types of emergency drills with students and staff.

Mary Browning Wright, the district’s chief operating officer, compared it to getting ready for state testing by studying throughout the year. “When it’s time to take the test, hopefully you’ve learned what you need to know,” she said. Likewise, “It’s always important that we practice in case we encounter an emergency.”

That was the case recently when four FCPS law enforcement officers conducted a lockdown drill at Bryan Station Traditional Magnet School. A lockdown ensures everyone’s safety in the event of a violent intruder or environmental hazard.

“You see it on the news every day – it’s the time we live in,” said Senior Officer Roger Madison, the area supervisor.

At Bryan Station, Madison told the attendance clerk in the front office to initiate “lockdown” mode. After a quick P.A. announcement, the school was eerily quiet and the hallways empty.

Madison and his colleagues fanned out and went door-to-door, making sure all classrooms were locked, students were out of sight, and lights were on.

“If the lights are off, that indicates to us something’s wrong in that classroom,” he explained as he marked his checklist. Also, “if you walk up to a school and it’s quiet and there’s nothing going on, that’s a sign something’s wrong.”

After the all-clear, the officers made a second pass through the building, unlocking doors with their master keys and assuring teachers and students that all was well.

“We grade the performance, and they either pass or fail,” said Madison, who debriefed the principal after the 20-minute drill.

Madison, who has been an FCPS officer since 1996, noted that lockdown drills are fairly realistic. “The only difference, in a real situation, it’s not going to be that calm,” he said, mentioning panic and smoke as possible factors in a true emergency.

Every school conducts a surprise lockdown drill once a year.

“You got to be familiar in case something like this should happen. You’ve got to have a plan,” said Frankie Bennett, the district’s interim director of law enforcement.

“We let them know this is serious and that all drills are serious,” Bennett said. “The way you practice is the way you’ll do it. If you practice it to perfection, we’ll have a high survival rate.”

In addition to lockdowns, the district’s Division of Risk Management and Safety tracks several drills, including:

• Fire drills: One must happen during the first two weeks of school and then monthly throughout the school year.
• Severe weather drills: four times a year (generally in September, February, March and April).
• Earthquake drills: three times a year (usually in August, October and January).

Officials record such data as the date and time, the number of students taking part, temperature and weather conditions, and the time required for the drill (in minutes and seconds). Then each school sends its reports to the risk management and safety office.

Wright said students need to remember to follow instructions closely during safety drills. “It’s really important that they take the drill seriously and realize we’re doing it for their well-being,” she said.