Parkland Updates

In recent Parkland news, there was a report on how local campuses are preparing for the possibility of active shooters and an overview of the Parkland Trustees meeting. WCIA had a video segment and an online article on campus policies on active shooters for Parkland and the University of Illinois campus last week:

There have been 15 shootings at schools around the country this year where someone was hurt or killed; four on university campuses.

It led to the question what plans are in place in case of an active shooter on college campuses around Central Illinois? Students say they don't know what to do if a shooting happens at their school...

Both Parkland and UI have extensive plans for this very situation. The most important part is to work quickly...

Both schools use procedures from those who know best.

"Which are based on the Department of Homeland Security recommendations of run, hide, fight if a situation presents itself to you," Short says.

But Parkland adds a little more to its plan.

"We endorse the run, hide, fight training but specifically we endorse the A.L.I.C.E. training," William Colbrook says...

Both departments say if there is an active shooter it takes everyone's help. They reach out to all area law enforcement and support from the fire department also. They come together once a year to train.

Video segment and article available here, with additional advice and information on what students and staff can do to prepare. Yesterday the News-Gazette had an overview of the Parkland Trustees meeting:

Parkland astronomy professor appointed to replace retiring planetarium director
...
At Wednesday night's meeting, the board appointed Erik Johnson, an associate professor of astronomy, to succeed the retiring David Leake as director of the school's planetarium, effective Aug. 12.

In other action by trustees:

— Raises of 3 percent — or up to 3.5 percent, pending how much the college is allotted in the state budget — were approved for Parkland's administrators and confidential and supervisory staff. The pay hikes match those approved previously for professional support staff, the college said.

— Open Road Paving of Urbana was awarded the $1,432,166 contract for campus walkway construction and parking-lot repairs.

— Champaign's Commerce Bank was chosen as the vendor for the college's procurement cards — or P-Cards.

Full blurb available here.