Dear Editor:
I am writing this the night before the election, so when you read this, I will have either been successful or unsuccessful in my bid.
But, admittedly my campaign has been the furthest thing on my mind in the wake of today’s opening testimony at the Hamilton Circuit Court. It was as if the entire community was collectively transported back to May 25, holding its breath, waiting, listening to better understand that which was so senseless; only to walk back into the present afterwards even more frustrated and with even more questions.
I’m not here to wax poetic about the problem of pain. For that, I’d highly recommend C.S. Lewis’s work on the subject. I am instead revisiting the recent past to better understand what is required of us now, and to clearly present the clear mandate for whomever may be on the Noblesville School Board to adopt the Indiana Department of Homeland Security guidelines per Public Law 27.
SOS Noblesville launched an online petition, Support Safer Noblesville Schools, at the end of February, just two weeks after the tragedy in Parkland, Fla. We sought out support from like-minded concerned parents and citizens to proactively address school safety concerns, proposing a viable option already in use within schools in Indiana, that met all of the Indiana Department of Homeland Security guidelines per Public Law 27, which the Indiana Sheriffs Association (ISA) consider “Best Practice.” To date, the petition has 1,830 signatures.
We had also requested an Independent Threat Assessment of Noblesville Schools in February to best determine the infrastructure and safety protocols that were effective and necessary, as well as identifying areas in deficiency that needed to be addressed and corrected to help safeguard the students, staff and faculty.
We met with many local, state and national law enforcement experts in preparation for our presentation before the Noblesville School Board on March 20, 2018. The messaging of our presentation was thorough, clear and spoke to questions about costs, logistics, endorsements and legislation. We also directly addressed a clear mindset that was present in the room, observing that we did not have the luxury to naïvely believe “It would never happen here.” Our proposal fell on deaf ears, as did our request for an Independent Threat Assessment.
On that same day, Indiana Sheriffs’ Association President Tim Troyer sent Noblesville Police Chief Kevin Jowitt an email also highlighting the inherent value and need for the emergency response system we were proposing later that same day, after his return from Parkland, Fla.
On the morning of May 25, it did happen here.
After the initial shock wore off, and families were reunited, the School Board and Noblesville Police created a narrative in the media that all of their planning and protocol worked, saving lives. Yes, teachers and staff members did everything they could with the limited tools they had been given. Each and every one of them is amazing and we owe them a debt of gratitude.
However, the only reason this did not turn into a Parkland, Fla. massacre is because a former collegiate defensive lineman HERO of a teacher took three bullets, which is not part of the protocol. The SRO (School Police Officer), through no fault of his own, arrived only after the shooter was subdued by Mr. Seaman and only after 10 bullets struck him and Ella. The SRO did an amazing job and responded as fast as he could but he cannot be everywhere at all times.
Additionally, contrary to the media template created by Noblesville Schools and Police, not “everything worked.” The first announcement notifying everyone in NWMS there was an active shooter indicated that it was taking place in the “Seventh Grade Hallway,” when in fact it was happening in an entirely different place, the “Science Hallway” (in a seventh grade Science classroom). Our SRO responded and did the best he could with the limited tools we gave him.
Additionally, a student who had been out of the class at the time didn’t know where to go, and wandered into the Science Hallway, unbeknownst to the student of the danger ahead. She frantically went from classroom to classroom looking for shelter but could find none, as all the classrooms were barricaded and were afraid to let her in, not knowing if she was the shooter. Again, was this part of the plan?
Without question, the heroic actions of Mr. Seaman saved lives, and his willingness to put himself in harm’s way so that his students may live is the only reason why anyone can even attempt to spin that this “incident” was successfully addressed through everything working and everyone knowing what to do. However, Thor Eells, National Tactical Officers Association Executive Director, and an ALICE instructor, noted you can’t only have ALICE. Mr. Eells posed a question to serve as a litmus test. Instead of Mr. Seaman, think of the teacher who is the smallest in stature, oldest, or pregnant, putting that person in Mr. Seaman’s place. Can you confidently say that the outcome would have been the same? If you cannot guarantee the same outcome, we need a better plan.
Under pressure to respond and react to the shooting, Noblesville Schools formulated the referendum on the ballot, which includes new safety measures, once again ignoring our ongoing request for an Independent Threat Assessment to ensure they were indeed focusing on what needed addressed: To not only be fiscally responsible with tax payer dollars, but also to know how best to safeguard our students, staff and faculty. We have to ensure that the safety initiatives we put in place will mitigate the risks as much as possible.
Even those with the best of intentions can be wrong. The Emergency Response System that adheres to all of the DHS Guidelines found in Indiana Public Law 27 would cost a fraction of the current $50 million referendum. In addition, Governor Holcomb has mandated every school in Indiana have an Independent Threat Assessment completed by 2021. Due to increased parental and community pressure, Noblesville Schools have changed their stance and have agreed to have an Independent Threat Assessment done. We have yet to receive confirmation that an ITA has been completed.
During today’s trial, the public received confirmation that Ella and Mr. Seaman were not targeted. The shooter’s goals were much more sinister than killing one person, as he described wanting to commit mass murder. By the grace of God, Mr. Seaman was able to heroically act to thwart the shooter’s evil intentions. Had Mr. Seaman, or any other teacher in the same position been unsuccessful, we would have had another Parkland or Columbine in Noblesville.
The Indiana tested and proven Emergency Response System described in Indiana Public Law 27 can help mitigate such loss, which our current safety initiatives (and proposed referendum initiatives) cannot and could not. The same has been sadly said about Parkland. Had Parkland had the proposed school security system as found in Southwestern High School, 15 of the 17 victims would have likely survived (per Mike Kersey, Multi-Jurisdictional Swat Commander, and National Security/School Safety Consultant).
No one system is going to prevent every possible threat, but a layered system, meeting the Indiana Department of Homeland Security Guidelines can in fact save lives that would otherwise be lost. Noblesville Schools can no longer ignore such an Emergency Response System, which has a “who’s who” list of endorsements from Law Enforcement and Educators. To have the legislation in place, and the technology available to secure our students, staff and faculty, and not use it, is negligent, irresponsible, unethical and unconscionable.
Michael C. Duell