Howard also discussed the school’s plan, which is still in its early stages, to train faculty, and later students, on how to recognize warning signs. He mentioned that Garfield would be working with an outside organization and that the school would be prepared to provide an 8-module institutional emergency and awareness course. This would include evacuation planning, identifying threats and suspicious persons, verbal descalation training, responding to hostile persons, and active shooting training.

For students looking for specialty help, Howard says, “Garfield is very fortunate that we partner with the University of Washington. So we have social workers… [and] mental health workers on campus, on site.”

This resource is relatively new, being instated this year as requested by students.

“We really want to make sure that students are feeling safe to be able to report,” said Pegi McEvoy, the Assistant Superintendent of Operations for Seattle Public Schools, during the meeting. She mentioned that all reports on incidents are confidential so students shouldn’t have a fear of retaliation from suspects.

She also named another resource, called the Safe Schools helpline, which is a way for students to report threats, bullying and any other negative issues anonymously by calling and texting through an app.

Within the past few weeks, there have already been some notable immediate changes within the building to prevent such events from occurring.. The East and West side doors will now be locked and the Alder doors are now emergency- only exits, in order to direct traffic through the front of the school.

“That way we can see who is coming through our building and we know who is coming in,” Howard said, referring to the new changes.

Additionally, Mr. Howard is encouraging faculty to stand in the hallways and classroom doors will be locked immediately after passing period is over. Some parents and students brought up that closed doors inhibit a welcoming environment, but the decision was made by administration in the interest of safety.

“If the doors are already locked, if something happens, then [the teachers] don’t have to walk to lock the door,” Howard said.

One parent at the meeting voiced concern regarding the security of the portables, a new addition to the school.

“[Around] our gymnasium as well as our portables…we have a bigger presence of outside security, walking the perimeter,” Mr. Howard said.

Another question touched on the topic of open-air class- rooms, which have only partial walls, and if students should enter the hallway and move to another classroom in the event of a lock-down. Originally, these rooms were mean to be an additional part of the hallway, but they were convert- ed into classrooms to accommodate student population.

“In the past…kids were crossing the hall,” said Bonnie Hungate-Hawk, the Fine Art Department chair and art teacher, said. “The teacher across the hall from me would bring her students into…my classroom. And now they have decided that it’s not safe to have the students out in the hallway, so they shelter-in-place or lock-down in that classroom.”