On October 25, 2024, Galena High School students and staff participated in an active intruder drill with the Galena Police Department. In preparation for the drill, students met with some Galena police officers to discuss emergency drills and answer questions in smaller groups.
Planning for the drill started with Officer Hatfield and some teachers toward the beginning of the school year, but it was only confirmed once all the details were set with the police. Unlike last year’s drill, GHS had a police officer act as the intruder. Mrs. Hawkins said, “This was on advice from the local police to make the drill a bit more realistic and thus better practice.”
On Friday, students attended their first class like normal, but with the precaution of the drill being at 8:30 a.m. Neither students nor staff knew where the “intruder” was supposed to be, so teachers had to plan where to go as soon as they heard the announcement. “I was the teacher asked to see the intruder, and alert the staff,” said Mrs. Bookless. “I was so anxious, and I knew the intruder was coming. I can’t imagine what it would be like to see someone without warning. I wonder if I would have reacted the same way.”
Teachers’ and students’ main options are running, fighting, or hiding. It is up to each individual person to decide what to do based on the location of the intruder. “I always tell my students that they have to trust their teacher,” said Bookless. “They have to trust that their teacher would do anything they could to keep them safe; it’s a lot of responsibility.”
Mrs. T, GHS art teacher said, “It is very hard to prepare for this event without it being traumatizing. You cannot make it realistic, but it can feel like we’re going through the motions. It’s a very weird thing.” After the coast was clear, students went back to their regular classes.
“I’d like there to be more time for discussions with students,” said Mrs. T. “Not only could a debrief of the drill give students the reality of the world we live in, but can also show that there could be violence anywhere we go whether we know it or not.” Although some changes could be made, like talking about the drill, Galena High School will continue to do this drill and raise awareness of safety protocols.
