New York State Schools to Begin Lockdown Exercise Protocols Next School Year

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — Changes are coming to New York State school districts’ protocols for lockdown drills.

Beginning in the 2024-25 school year, New York State schools will be required to notify parents, students and staff before lockdown drills and ensure that the drills do not mimic a school shooting or other incident of violence.

The state Board of Regents approved the regulatory changes earlier this week in an effort to reduce the mental health issues and trauma these exercises can potentially cause.

State law requires every school to conduct at least eight evacuations and four lockdown drills each school year.

There are several opinions on this topic, so I spoke with a superintendent to learn a little more about this new protocol.

“I think it’s always best to do something in its most authentic form,” said Mark Laurrie, superintendent of the Niagara Falls City School District.

That said, Niagara Falls City School District Superintendent Mark Laurrie said he is aware that students are very sensitive to these types of exercises.

He respects parents who feel the need to change course, because these types of exercises can be traumatic, Laurrie added.

“Allowing parents to know in advance gives them the parental right to exclude their child from exercise, if they feel it is necessary, while still being allowed and able to do as much exercise as they need to, to be prepared for this horrible thing that could happen,” Laurrie said.

He told me that the exercises would be done no matter what, you can never be too prepared.

Eve Shippens, co-president of the Buffalo Parent Teacher Organization, said: “It’s a horrible thing to be prepared for. Honestly, in my 23 years of teaching, I’ve never been in a classroom without looking for a hiding place or an escape route. I started teaching right after Columbine.”

The 1999 Columbine High School shooting in Colorado had a devastating impact on Eve Shippens’ teaching career.

Shippens is also co-president of the Buffalo Parent Teacher Organization.

Shippens added: “I know that’s a big burden on kids, especially when they’ve witnessed gun violence and been bombarded with stories their whole lives. So I think parents need to be able to explain to kids what the purpose of a drill is and make sure it’s age appropriate.”

She said it is very important for children to be prepared for emergencies.

Shippens said: “But we also have to keep in mind the mental health of the children, the mental health of the staff, the mental health of the families and we have to make sure that we don’t do more harm than good.”

“It’s probably a very good idea because it takes a lot of anxiety away from parents who hear that there’s a lockdown drill coming. Often people don’t know that there’s going to be a drill, and that then causes unnecessary anxiety that can cause people to panic and run to school,” David O’Donnell said.

David O’Donnell has no children but he does have nieces and nephews.

He said a week’s notice of lockdown is important in today’s schools.

O’Donnell said: “It’s unfortunate that we’ve gotten to this point where we have to have drills and shooters and that kind of thing, but the reality is we’re doing it. If it saves lives, it’s a good thing.”

Niagara Falls City School District Superintendent Mark Laurrie said school districts are still waiting for final guidance.

He hopes the move will allow schools and school districts to decide what their best method of messaging is, whether it’s phone calls, text messages, emails, etc.