DBHS reviews student safety
Assistant Principal David Hong shares the campus’ security policies.
April 26, 2017
The school shooting that took the life of one teacher and a student and injured two others at North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino this month, put a spotlight on the safety measures other public schools use to ensure that such incidents do not occur.
David Hong, Diamond Bar High School assistant principal said that procedures at this school were discussed after the San Bernardino shooting. According to Hong, every similar event that occurs in other areas around the country also stirs up discussion among the DBHS administration.
“We have conversations after everything, and just [last] week we’ve had two meetings with the GLCs. I’ve met with security twice, and we had a big administrative meeting to talk about whether or not we’re prepared for something like that,” Hong said.
Although no similar incidents have occurred on the DBHS campus before, the administration does have procedures in place in the event such an incident occurs.
After the school day begins, all gates are locked except for the main gate at the front of the school. Visitors are allowed on campus as long as they check in at the front office. However, dropping off items to students is not permitted. A security guard is stationed by the front gate during school hours and others patrol the perimeter of the school.
If an incident to threaten students’ safety were to occur on campus, the school would be placed under lockdown until the threat was resolved. A minute long bell would be rung to signal the beginning of a lockdown and all students directed to the nearest classroom..
Once students are indoors, staff members would lock all doors turn off all lights. Students would be instructed to wait quietly for the duration of the incident. Any windows would be covered and students moved away from them. The lockdown would be officially over once a staff member unlocks the door.
This is a procedure most students should be familiar with, as it is occasionally practiced during school along with other emergency drills.
“We are very reflective and we make sure everybody is doing their job in the front,” Hong said. “Student safety is very important to us, of course.”
