Members of the Culver City Unified School District security team could soon be heading back to the classroom for more training in the wake of the murders of 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. last year.
Discussions around school security have been ubiquitous on school campuses throughout the nation of the Newtown slayings on Dec. 14 by Adam Lanza. The 20 year-old gunman killed his mother before going to the school and continuing his rampage.
A member of the school board as well as the head of the union that represents the officers have agreed in principle to consider additional training for the resource officers.
Debbie Hamme, the president of the Culver City Associated of Classified Employees, said she had a conversation with CCUSD Board President Katherine Paspalis about new approaches for enhanced school safety at a recent school board meeting.
“We want to investigate a lot of avenues in which to do that,” she said.
Paspalis said she would leave the decision to seek more training up to the district’s administration and security team, but she would support anything that would make them better equipped to handle emergency situations.
“I would certainly be on board with anything that would ensure the continued safety of our staff and our students,” she said.
Earlier, Paspalis accused Hamme’s union of standing in the way of additional officer training.
“I think our protocols and procedures are fine and I think our officers are well trained, but I would like to see them get some additional training,” the board president said in an interview in December. “I would like to see our security officers get training for things that we’re facing in the 21st century, but the Associated of Classified Employees union has opposed that.”
‘We have never been against additional training for resource officers,” Hamme countered. “Our concern was what type of training was being considered because we do not want our security team to become police officers.”
Paspalis said it is natural after a tragedy to take a look at all areas of school security, including possible upgrades in security measures as well as officer training. “Everyone is concerned about safety issues,” Paspalis said. “I certainly would be on board with anything that would ensure the safety of our staff and our students.”
In the aftermath of the Newtown shooting, National Rifle Association Vice President and CEO Wayne LaPierre advocated having armed guards in every school in the nation and has since suggested giving teachers guns to use as well if their school were to come under attack.
CCUSD Superintendent David LaRose is firmly against having armed guards in his schools.
“”That would not be my first agenda item (for improving school safety,” the superintendent said in an earlier interview.
Hamme also rejected LaPierre’s suggestion for allowing teachers to be armed on school campuses. “I don’t think historically that has been proven to be effective,” she said.
The union president thinks good suggestions on upgrading safety measures were offered at a summit last month.
“Having panic buttons installed in each school’s office and having better coverage at all the schools are good steps,” Hamme said.
CCUSD Security Supervisor Ted Yant could not be reached for comment.