A new series of safety drills are implemented at Curtis

Fire, lockdown, and shelter in drills have become a common scene at Curtis.

   The New York City evacuation drill has made drastic changes over the past year. The changes came after the Sandy Hook School shooting on December 14, 2012. There are three different types of drills. The “evacuate” drill is an exercise drill of duties and procedures to be followed in case of an emergency. The “lockdown” drills are means of practicing preparedness in the event of an intruder or criminal act. “Shelter-In” drills are procedures to follow if the threat is outside the school.

   Assistant Principal Jose Burbano. spoke about the new drill.   According to Burbano, the drills better prepare the school, staff, and students in case of an emergency.” Also, according to Mr.Burbano, “Teaching students and teachers a new routine” is the most difficult part of the evacuation drill. The evacuation drill is supposed to take no longer than 4-5 minutes to get the entire school out of the building and onto the field. To ensure that everyone is out of the building at the end of the drill, the security staff and teachers all use a system of raising their red card if their missing a student.  If they have their entire class with them they raise a green card. Also, they use the security cameras inside the building making sure no one is in the building anymore.

   The most common type of drill is the evacuation drill. The drill is conducted at least once a period during the school year.  On November 25, period five the entire school streamed out of the building into frigid temperatures. The field slowly filled with over 2,000 students following their teachers to designated spots on the wall field and bleachers.  Ms. Issasi-Indres’s Spanish class  meets near the bleachers while Mr. Dale’s class meets on 20 yard line. “At first the field looks  chaotic but eventually we get ourselves together.  I think it is important to know what to do in an emergency,” Adedoyin Julius.

   These drills may be helpful and ensure safety, however, they are can have a negative effect on classes.  Ms.Rockiki agrees, “Yes, they can be disruptive to the class, but it doesn’t bother me because its for the safety of the students, teachers, and staff.”

   Some students disagree with Rockiki, Senior Justin Leon said  ”I’m used to it by now because we’ve went over it so many times, but I don’t really think its very important,  it’s pretty disruptive and it gets really annoying during class and honestly they don’t make me feel any safer.”

   Taherat Agibode disagreed with Leon on the safety issue “ it is very important and it does make me feel safer.”