Blake High School - incident report

[Anonymous]

The principal emailed parents this text of an announcement she made on the P.A. today. Glad to see this increased attention to building security. For context, Blake has a closed campus for lunch, but I believe students can usually eat anywhere outside on school property (my kid sticks to the courtyard or inside, so I'm not positive of restrictions on other outdoor locations).

Good morning Bengal staff and students,

Please excuse this interruption, this is Ms. Snead with an important and brief announcement. Yesterday afternoon, I sent a letter addressing concerns of intruders trying to access our school building. In order to take additional safety precautions, we will have additional security staff and police presence on and around campus throughout the day. We will also be running a modified shelter for lunch for the remainder of the week. ALL students are expected to stay inside the building during lunch. If you must go outside only the courtyard area will be accessible. If you have an abbreviated schedule or early dismissal you must leave out through the
main office entrance doors.

We expect hallways to be clear and all students to be in classes. We are assigning consequences for students choosing to not follow general expectations. Please never prop a door open for anyone, attend all classes on time, never leave a location without a pass and speak with an adult in the building if you have any concerns. Your safety is our top priority. Thank you for helping us keep you safe.

[Anonymous]

What will this consequences be, I wonder?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The principal emailed parents this text of an announcement she made on the P.A. today. Glad to see this increased attention to building security. For context, Blake has a closed campus for lunch, but I believe students can usually eat anywhere outside on school property (my kid sticks to the courtyard or inside, so I'm not positive of restrictions on other outdoor locations).

Good morning Bengal staff and students,

Please excuse this interruption, this is Ms. Snead with an important and brief announcement. Yesterday afternoon, I sent a letter addressing concerns of intruders trying to access our school building. In order to take additional safety precautions, we will have additional security staff and police presence on and around campus throughout the day. We will also be running a modified shelter for lunch for the remainder of the week. ALL students are expected to stay inside the building during lunch. If you must go outside only the courtyard area will be accessible. If you have an abbreviated schedule or early dismissal you must leave out through the
main office entrance doors.

We expect hallways to be clear and all students to be in classes. We are assigning consequences for students choosing to not follow general expectations. Please never prop a door open for anyone, attend all classes on time, never leave a location without a pass and speak with an adult in the building if you have any concerns. Your safety is our top priority. Thank you for helping us keep you safe.

GOOD. I like the stern, clear, specific nature of this language in the note. Now actions just have to match and back up these words.

[Anonymous]

I’ll believe it when I see it. Waiting for my kids to come home and share any updates.

[Anonymous]

This is why we need more security, not less.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a kid at Blake and didn’t know about the Friday incident — thanks for sharing that, OP. That’s scary!

Probably because the Friday incident only exists in that poster's mind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is why we need more security, not less.

And watchtowers and armed guards with dogs!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents, don’t rest on “can’t secure all the doors.”

Yes they can and they must!

For decades, emergency doors had alarms when opened.

And there are motion sensor cameras even for private use so they can certainly adapt for door coverage.

Demand safety. At minimum, start with wiring done at the schools to protect the students.

No, they can't. Or at least they can't without giving a lot of money to companies that sell "security", and turning a school building into a high-security building. I think education funding should go to education, not to the "security" industry.

Kids cannot learn if they are not safe. Spend what they need to. They waste so much money, at least this is for good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents, don’t rest on “can’t secure all the doors.”

Yes they can and they must!

For decades, emergency doors had alarms when opened.

And there are motion sensor cameras even for private use so they can certainly adapt for door coverage.

Demand safety. At minimum, start with wiring done at the schools to protect the students.

No, they can't. Or at least they can't without giving a lot of money to companies that sell "security", and turning a school building into a high-security building. I think education funding should go to education, not to the "security" industry.

Kids cannot learn if they are not safe. Spend what they need to. They waste so much money, at least this is for good.

Who needs a school to prison pipeline when we can turn the school into the prison?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is why we need more security, not less.

And watchtowers and armed guards with dogs!

Great suggestion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents, don’t rest on “can’t secure all the doors.”

Yes they can and they must!

For decades, emergency doors had alarms when opened.

And there are motion sensor cameras even for private use so they can certainly adapt for door coverage.

Demand safety. At minimum, start with wiring done at the schools to protect the students.

No, they can't. Or at least they can't without giving a lot of money to companies that sell "security", and turning a school building into a high-security building. I think education funding should go to education, not to the "security" industry.

Kids cannot learn if they are not safe. Spend what they need to. They waste so much money, at least this is for good.

Who needs a school to prison pipeline when we can turn the school into the prison?

Right, better to keep having these incidents at public school where yours are nice and safe in private... what's the big deal if violence happens to someone else kid or teachers/staff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents, don’t rest on “can’t secure all the doors.”

Yes they can and they must!

For decades, emergency doors had alarms when opened.

And there are motion sensor cameras even for private use so they can certainly adapt for door coverage.

Demand safety. At minimum, start with wiring done at the schools to protect the students.

No, they can't. Or at least they can't without giving a lot of money to companies that sell "security", and turning a school building into a high-security building. I think education funding should go to education, not to the "security" industry.

Kids cannot learn if they are not safe. Spend what they need to. They waste so much money, at least this is for good.

Who needs a school to prison pipeline when we can turn the school into the prison?

Right, better to keep having these incidents at public school where yours are nice and safe in private... what's the big deal if violence happens to someone else kid or teachers/staff.

The people who cry about the "school to prison pipeline" absolutely do not care if students and staff are harmed by students who assault, bring weapons to school or commit other violent acts. They view it as a reasonable cost of deciding to send your children to public school, which is sad and sick, IMO. But these people are willing for our children to be collateral damage and scream and squawk at anyone who suggests we get firmer about security and safety measures.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents, don’t rest on “can’t secure all the doors.”

Yes they can and they must!

For decades, emergency doors had alarms when opened.

And there are motion sensor cameras even for private use so they can certainly adapt for door coverage.

Demand safety. At minimum, start with wiring done at the schools to protect the students.

No, they can't. Or at least they can't without giving a lot of money to companies that sell "security", and turning a school building into a high-security building. I think education funding should go to education, not to the "security" industry.

Kids cannot learn if they are not safe. Spend what they need to. They waste so much money, at least this is for good.

Who needs a school to prison pipeline when we can turn the school into the prison?

Right, better to keep having these incidents at public school where yours are nice and safe in private... what's the big deal if violence happens to someone else kid or teachers/staff.

Narrator: someone else's kid is the one doing the violence

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents, don’t rest on “can’t secure all the doors.”

Yes they can and they must!

For decades, emergency doors had alarms when opened.

And there are motion sensor cameras even for private use so they can certainly adapt for door coverage.

Demand safety. At minimum, start with wiring done at the schools to protect the students.

No, they can't. Or at least they can't without giving a lot of money to companies that sell "security", and turning a school building into a high-security building. I think education funding should go to education, not to the "security" industry.

Kids cannot learn if they are not safe. Spend what they need to. They waste so much money, at least this is for good.

Who needs a school to prison pipeline when we can turn the school into the prison?

Right, better to keep having these incidents at public school where yours are nice and safe in private... what's the big deal if violence happens to someone else kid or teachers/staff.

The people who cry about the "school to prison pipeline" absolutely do not care if students and staff are harmed by students who assault, bring weapons to school or commit other violent acts. They view it as a reasonable cost of deciding to send your children to public school, which is sad and sick, IMO. But these people are willing for our children to be collateral damage and scream and squawk at anyone who suggests we get firmer about security and safety measures.

One alternative is to remove or sequester violent students. You don't have to turn every school into a prison that's just a popular solution with the far-right.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents, don’t rest on “can’t secure all the doors.”

Yes they can and they must!

For decades, emergency doors had alarms when opened.

And there are motion sensor cameras even for private use so they can certainly adapt for door coverage.

Demand safety. At minimum, start with wiring done at the schools to protect the students.

No, they can't. Or at least they can't without giving a lot of money to companies that sell "security", and turning a school building into a high-security building. I think education funding should go to education, not to the "security" industry.

Kids cannot learn if they are not safe. Spend what they need to. They waste so much money, at least this is for good.

Who needs a school to prison pipeline when we can turn the school into the prison?

Right, better to keep having these incidents at public school where yours are nice and safe in private... what's the big deal if violence happens to someone else kid or teachers/staff.

The people who cry about the "school to prison pipeline" absolutely do not care if students and staff are harmed by students who assault, bring weapons to school or commit other violent acts. They view it as a reasonable cost of deciding to send your children to public school, which is sad and sick, IMO. But these people are willing for our children to be collateral damage and scream and squawk at anyone who suggests we get firmer about security and safety measures.

One alternative is to remove or sequester violent students. You don't have to turn every school into a prison that's just a popular solution with the far-right.

I 100% agree, but MCPS won't do that because removing, suspending or expelling violent students is racist, and part of the school to prison pipeline. So now we're back to square one.