Five minutes:That is how long the average school shooting lasts from the time the first bullet is fired to the last.
Springfield school police Lt.Eric Boxberger shared thatstatistic— and many others— during intruder and "active killer" training Tuesday for teachers and staff at Robberson Community School.
Given that average time, Boxberger explained to employees that their efforts to slow or stop the assailant will likely save lives.
"We are trying to buy time to give law enforcement time to respond," he said. "If we can keep that outside for two to three minutes, you are giving us time to get here."
Springfield Public Schools, as part of a major push to enhance safety during the 2018-19 year, is scheduled to provide the sit-down portion of the intruder training to all schools by the end of September.
A series of intruder drills will follow so employees can practice what they learned.
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In the training observed by the News-Leader, Boxberger urged staff to adopt a survival mindset and develop communication, escape, counter-attack and reunification plans that fit their specific school building and campus.
"Using a cookie-cutter plan for every scenario does not work," he said.
Boxberger reassured teachers and staff that while they may be the front line of defense, they will not be alone.
"If we get a call of somebody armed near a school, that is probably a Code 3 response. We are coming, lights and sirens," he said. "I can tell you, if we have an incident, everybody is coming."
He said a few years ago, an active shooter was reported at Drury University and the law enforcement response included the Springfield Police Department, Greene County Sheriff's Office, Homeland Security, BNSF Railway police, Missouri State Highway Patrol and school and campus police. The report was unfounded.
Boxberger said every officer in the area responded.
He noted the different agencies— and first responders— collaborate, communicate and stage joint training sessions to prepare.
'Pre-plan your escape'
Springfield students, spurred to action after a Feb. 14 school shooting in Florida, staged demonstrations, walkouts and a town hall meeting to protest gun violence and demand safer school buildings.
This year,the school board approved $4.3 million to secure doors, add cameras, expand safety trainingand hire three additional school police officers.
Additional changes are expected. The district is studying what it will cost to add "secure vestibules" at school buildings where they do not yet exist.
Springfield school police are assigned to every middle and high school. There are also patrol officers stationed at other points in the district, including elementary schools.
Boxberger said the approach means the school police response time for high priority incidents is, on average, two minutes or less.
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He said a quick response is critical because statistics compiled by the Federal Bureau of Investigationshowed active shooter incidents typically end shortly after the arrival of law enforcement.
The FBI study of incidents between 2000 and 2013 showed how active shooter incidents end. In 68.1 percent of incidents, the shooter commits suicide or law enforcement and the shooter exchanged gunfire. In 13.1 percent of the incidents, unarmed citizens are able to stop and restrain the shooter.
As part of the training, Boxberger examined a series of high-profile shootings including Columbine High School in 1999, Virginia Tech in 2007, Sandy Hook in 2012 and Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in February 2018.
He pointed out how the shooters entered the campus, where they went, how school staff and law enforcement responded, and what lessons can be learned.
Columbine was a turning point in how schools and law enforcement officers responded to active threats.
Boxberger said the approach became more active and confrontational. For example,officers used to be trained to set up a perimeter, establish contact and call in a tactical team— and negotiators— in school shootings. He said now they are trained to locate, isolate and stop the threat.
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Similarly, school employees who used to be told to lock down and wait for police arenow being encouraged to develop different responses based on scenarios.
"When you think about your classroom, danger is at the door, what are you going to do?" he asked. "...Pre-plan your escape — doors, windows, et cetera. Pre-plan your counter-measures."
'Trying to buy yourself time'
The district uses ALICE training, which stands for Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter and Evacuate. Among other things, the training explains ways to fight back that include swarming, tacklingand throwing objects.
"One of the things they didn't think teachers were prepared to do is counter an attack, and you may not be," he told the Robberson employees. "But, that is an option."
Robberson Principal Kevin Huffman said the elementary school has a safety committee and practices different escape routes and emergency responses.
"For years in schools, we've been taught to duck and hide," he said, noting there are more options now. "Sometimes you fight back. Sometimes you run."
Huffman said he wants to conduct simulations and have school police work with the staff on ways to react based on the threat.
"It is good information," he said. "It gets you thinking about scenarios that you don't want to think about."
Employees have a tactical advantage if they remain aware of their surroundings, can quickly identify individuals who do not belong, and have a response plan, he said.
Boxberger said it's a simple step, but locked exterior or interior doors can slow or deter access.
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"Somebody coming into the building knows they don't have a whole lot of time. They know they need to find easy targets," he said. "Locked doors are effective. Barricaded doors are effective. It's not the answer to everything, but they are effective if you are trying to buy yourself time."
At Robberson, a staff member admitted the topic made her uneasy.
"I don't want to make you nervous, I want to make you think," Boxberger said in response. "We are talking about visualizing and going through things in your head specific to your classroom and your building."
Boxberger said the entire school community— teachers, staff, students, administrators and parents— must work together.
"After the Florida school shooting, the reports we receive from students has increased tremendously. We get constant reports, anything mentioned about a threat, a gun, a fight," he said, noting the district is developing a tip line. "Right now, the reporting is much better than it has ever been."
