In light of recent school shootings across the country, the State of Iowa is asking all schools to compile a comprehensive safety plan. Adair-Casey/Guthrie Center is just beginning the process of formulating their plan.

Superintendent Steve Smith tells Raccoon Valley Radio they have made some modifications to safety features, though it’s only a start. “We’ve all been I think, as schools, a bit reluctant in trying to really get things put together. It is time that we do that. We have the buzzer system here at AC/GC High School, (AC/GC) junior high, and the (Adair-Casey and Guthrie Center) elementaries, where you do have to buzz-in to get into the building. Does that make me feel real secure? Probably not, but it is a start for things.”

Smith explains the process to formulate the plan. “It’s going to go from the beginning of building a good school culture with kids trusting kids, and kids trusting adults, and having communication with one another and also families. It will move from that clear into protocol in what do you do if certain things happen. So it will be interesting. It will be a process that schools will have to spend a great deal of time at in having good conversation about what goes into those plans.”

Smith is open to instituting School Resource Officers and other safety measures, though he emphasizes no matter what changes are made, it will not stop a shooting or other emergency situation every time. All Iowa school districts have to complete their emergency operation plans by June 30th of next year. To hear more about this and other topics at AC/GC, listen to today’s Let’s Talk Guthrie County program.