A senate review by Okla. State Senator Al McAffrey

Since the tragic school shooting that took place at Sandy Hook Elementary in Connecticut last month, school safety has been on everyone’s mind.  As a former police officer and grandfather, I am especially concerned about this issue and getting some feedback from the community. 

This past Wednesday, I met with the Oklahoma City School administrators and other legislative leaders to discuss how our community should address this important issue. 

Oklahoma City Public Schools takes this issue very seriously.  Even before this incident, there were police officers paid to be at middle schools as well as high schools. 

One of the main questions posed was adding security to the city’s elementary schools.  There are around 75 elementary schools and it’s estimated that it would cost approximately $750,000 to $1 million to have officers at these schools. 

The question is then how would those additional officers be paid for?  Would the state or federal government provide additional appropriations or could the city pass a tax to be devoted specifically to school security?

Another issue that was brought up is the fact that there are already 55 Oklahoma City Police Department officers assigned to the middle and high schools.  The police department is stretched too thin and already doesn’t have enough officers to meet other needs in the community, let alone having officers to cover all of the elementary schools.  Therefore, the police department would also need additional funds in order to hire officers for this new assignment.  Another option would be to rely on the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Department but they are also short-staffed. 

Other ideas must be considered as well.  Do we arm our teachers and administrators?  There are so many issues to consider with this idea.  While police officers are trained to handle stressful situations and make split second life and death chooses, teachers are not.  Would they be able to handle such a situation and make such a choice if necessary?  Also I’d like to point out that having a police vehicle outside of schools (or other businesses) serves as a great deterrent to crime.  If someone knows they’re going to be facing a trained professional with a gun, they’re less likely to try to cause trouble.  While arming teachers could be an option, without an officer’s car outside, a criminal would not be as deterred to walk into the building and that person would more than likely cause trouble; whereas an officer would hopefully be able to stop that individual before they even got in the building. 

Besides the option of adding security guards, I think it’s most important that our teachers and administrators be trained in how to handle such situations.  Schools should have a plan of action where teachers automatically lock their doors.  Just as with tornado drills, students need to be taught how to respond in such a situation.  They must stay out of sight from windows by getting down low and hiding in cabinets, closets or under desks.  One teacher at Sandy Hook was able to save many of her students by helping them hide and then telling the gunmen her class was somewhere else in the building.  Unfortunately, she lost her life but her quick thinking saved many precious lives.  Our teachers need to be trained to think quickly like this as well.  This isn’t something that comes naturally to most people as they aren’t used to being in dangerous and stressful situations.  

Other ideas include fencing all schools so that people can’t get access to the school without going to certain doors.  Would it be possible to install automatic lockdown doors where an administrator can simply hit a button and all outside and classroom doors would be locked?   

Remember, these are all just ideas that have been discussed.  They do not necessarily reflect my opinions.  I just want to share all of these issues and ideas with you in order to get more perspectives and ideas. 

Whatever is decided locally and statewide, our schools must have options.  Something that works for one school won’t necessarily work for another school.  We must be mindful that Oklahoma City Schools have much more funds available to them than our state’s smaller, rural schools.  

These are all difficult issues to consider, but we have to do something in order to protect our children.  If you have any ideas for ways to help improve school security in Oklahoma City Public Schools, please contact me.  Any solutions we can find for our school system could also be tremendously beneficial for other schools around the state. 

If you have any questions or comments, I can be reached by email at mcaffrey@oksenate.gov or by phone at (405) 521-5610.  You can also write me:  Senator Al McAffrey, State Capitol, 2300 N. Lincoln Blvd. Room 527A, Oklahoma City, OK, 73105.