Rapid City schools could see future changes in crisis plans - KOTA Territory News

Rapid City schools could see future changes in crisis plans

After the tragedy that touched the entire nation in Newtown, Connecticut, schools across the U.S. begin to evaluate their crisis situation plans.

Rapid City Superintendent Dr. Timothy Mitchell says Rapid City schools could be making some safety changes in the future. "As of right now there are no expected immediate changes in plans at the rapid city area schools, but surely in the near future as we continue to look at the resources that are made available to us, based upon their analysis of this particular type of thing, we will probably make some changes," said Dr. Mitchell.

Every school in Rapid City has a crisis lockdown and evacuation plan, and students and staff practice their crisis plans at least once a quarter, but according the South Dakota department of education crisis planning guidelines good plans should be updated often.

And while most parents at South Park Elementary say they are pretty happy with safety at their children's school, they do have some recommendations for all Rapid City Elementary Schools.  "I definitely like the idea of yesterday [Monday] there was a police officer here which was nice," said one South Park Parent Jessica smith. "If there were full time security I think that would be better."

Another South Park Parent Chrissy Perez says she would like all students to have ID's and for adult's ID's to be examined as well. "Check ID's for pickups on kids, and make sure it's the right person that's supposed to be picking them up I mean anybody can come in and take a kid," said Perez.