Columbine, ten years later - WALB.com, Albany News, Weather, Sports

Columbine, ten years later

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By Delivrine Registre - bio | email

ALBANY, GA (WALB) -   It's the 10th anniversary of the massacre at Columbine High School.  Twelve students and a teacher were killed in Littleton, Colorado before the two teen gunmen killed themselves.  

 Albany High school administrators work everyday to make sure that deadly scene isn't repeated there.  "Columbine was a situation that was a rude awakening for all of us to take school security seriously." 

And that never left Assistant Principal Kono Smith's mind. "When I had to redo the school safety plan I had a conversation with the assistant principal at Columbine and he was able to send me there comprehensive plan."

 They have regular drills to make sure that plan remains fresh in case the safety at Albany High is ever threatened. "The actual out of perimeter doors in all of our locations are secured. We conduct active or random locker and vehicle searches," said Chief of Dougherty County School Police.

There are two officers patrolling each of the four high schools and one officer at every middle school. "If we were to have a situation similar in nature, we have the means to respond. We are also members of the local jurisdictional SWAT Team," said Conley.

 And whatever they miss is captured on surveillance video that is installed in every Dougherty County school. "It is in our best interest that we keep all of our students, all of our teachers, and all of our constituents safe," said Smith.

So that students and staff can focus on teaching and learning and not worry about a scene like this being played out again.

Despite all the safety measures in place, administrators know good communication is often the key to preventing attacks. Students can report any threat by calling the Student Crime Watch at 229-483-6362. Callers can remain anonymous.

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