What if your guardian angel takes the day off?

When you think of Albany, what generally comes to mind? Usually there is agreement that this pretty square mile city nestled next to Berkeley is renowned for being a sheltered bubble that takes pride in high academic achievement, a unique small town character, and relatively low crime rates in contrast to its East Bay counterparts.

The halls of Albany High School are rarely the scene of serious violence and most of the youngsters are considered a harmless combination of talk and pent-up energy. Few worry about something terrifying happening on campus.

But wait a second; have you actually thought about how vulnerable our school really is?

Since the Columbine massacre seven years ago, schools all across America have been scrambling to develop adequate emergency procedures to prevent more bloodshed. The odds of something like this happening in Albany are very low. But wouldn’t it be handy to know how authorities would try to save our lives from a dangerous killer?

So you may be wondering, how is that security guard supposed to stop a psycho with a gun? You may even be asking, why doesn’t AHS have a campus cop? Well, even though having an officer with professional training and immediate radio contact to the Albany Police Department is obviously the safest and most reliable source of security, it is still reassuring to know that we’ve got someone who is willing to help us by putting their life on the line. Unfortunately, last year’s campus cop, Officer Mike Ayers died of skin cancer and the APD has not been able to assign a replacement.

Principal Ron Rosenbaum admitted, “I think there is slightly more risk that we don’t have a police officer here – not because (the security guard) doesn’t have a gun, but because they would be working in unison with the APD and school administration. We are at a disadvantage.”
In the first two weeks of October, four deadly atrocities happened in schools across the country and in Canada.

So basically, if a similar situation were to occur at Albany High School, administration would call the police and send out a code word through the PA system to indicate to teachers that everyone has to be secured in locked classrooms until further notice.

“When things happen, the key thing to do is stay calm and respond the best you can,” Rosenbaum affirmed optimistically.

Afterwards, a mental health crisis response would be coordinated to help victims and students cope with post traumatic stress disorder, fear, depression, and anxieties caused by the incident.

So guys and gals, rest assured because there is a plan. And if all else fails, don’t forget to duck and cover!

3 Responses

1. 8:09 AM on December 14th, 2006Rebecca Molinari:

   I can say for the shooting at Dawson College here in Montreal Canada the campus had many points of entry for the person to get it, but it was not the fault of the building design that made those events so dangerous. It was the fact that the person lost their mind. It was a sad day, but because the school is designed in a certain way doesn’t mean that the students are at a disadvantage.

   Albany High Alum attending McGill University in Montreal Quebec Canada

2. 7:52 AM on December 15th, 2006deshawn freemen:

   dang….i never thought bout that

3. 8:47 AM on December 22nd, 2006Anonymous:

   the best way to prevent a school shooting?

   be nice to each other…

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