South Bend school board to vote on security assessment, armed intruder training

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — On Tuesday, the South Bend Community School Corporation Board of Trustees will vote on possible security assessments to be done at every school in the district. 

According to the proposal from Davis Corporate Training, Inc., the group will perform security vulnerability assessments at “29 schools and 3 additional facilities and Civilian Response to Armed Intruder professional learning or other workplace violence prevention training for all staff members in the district.”

“Something has to be done to ensure the safety of our students,” said Desmond Murray, who lives in Michiana.

The total cost of the contract is $97,181. The state Department of Homeland Security approved a grant on September 1 that covers the entire cost. 

“That is something that needs to be addressed in some way,” said Murray. 

In the United States, there have been more than 20 school shootings since the start of the year. In June, a 13-year-old student at Clay International Academy was arrested and suspended for allegedly bringing a gun to school. 

SBCSC Superintendent Dr. Todd Cummings sent the following statement to ABC 57: 

“The possibility of an armed intruder in a school has become a sad reality in today’s world. Like schools around the country, we need to be sure our staff is trained and prepared for this type of emergency. Keeping our children safe is a top priority.” 

“We need to do everything we can to keep our kids safe,” said Anngi Lynch, a local member of Moms Demand Action. 

Lynch said she personally agrees with training employees on how to ensure student safety. However, she said the state and federal governments need to enact common-sense gun laws, so South Bend schools would not need the security training. 

“They wouldn’t need to invent the wheel it would be right there for them all spelled out,” said Lynch. 

The Board will vote on Tuesday, September 3 at 5:30 p.m.