Charter school safety plan ready

Cottonwood Valley Charter School’s proximity to the police station and the school’s multi-building setup should minimize the risk of a shooter evading law enforcement for any length of time, said school administrator Karin Williams.

“We’re a very open campus, which is some ways makes us more vulnerable,” she said. “But a shooter would have to go outside. It wouldn’t be possible to roam the halls hidden from police because of our lack of halls.”

The campus is also less than a mile away from the city police department, so responders could arrive within minutes of the first 911 call.

The school has a lock-down procedure in place.

“We do have a lock-down procedure,” she said. “Every class practices it once or twice a year.”

Williams is also confident teachers would defend students from an intruder.

“It’s horrifying to contemplate,” she said. “Most teachers would protect the children with their own lives.”