Guidance counselor Dave Morrill, a crisis response committee member, presented the plan, the result of monthly meetings since October 2006. Committee members include Morrill, Superintendent Heather Perry, Principal Becky Brown, Student Health Coordinator Dawna Blackstone, and Brude Hanson, the school grounds supervisor.

The committee is in the process of finishing the plan, and will continue to work with various town departments and C.A. Dean Hospital to coordinate the school's response to any kind of crisis. "The goal is to have this in place by the start of next school year," Perry told the school committee.

Though many details of the plan are to be kept confidential except to responders due to security concerns, Morrill said a detailed evacuation and lockdown plan has been formulated. This plan includes identification and access to off-campus sites, and identification of key personnel and procedures.

"Communication has been a big issue," Morrill said.

All areas of communication have been addressed, including that between the school, emergency responders, parents and the general public. Key staff members have undergone incident command and threat assessment training.

"There has been a lot of internal training and organization," Morrill said.

The school is pursuing a designation for the Oakes Building as an American Red Cross shelter, which would bring funs to the school if the building was used in an emergency.
"This content originally appeared as a copyrighted article in the Tuesday, May 29, 2007 edition of the Moosehead Messenger and is used here with permission."