By ROWENA PLETT

Staff writer

Children are familiar with fire drills at school, and now they are getting used to active-shooter drills.

Centre staff received active-shooter training in August, and earlier this month students were trained.

Superintendent Susan Beeson said Hillsboro assistant chief of police Jesse Hiebert spent two hours with middle school and high school students.

An active-shooter drill was conducted two weeks ago, and another is planned today.

Beeson said teachers and students are informed of the day and time of the drill, and a specific scenario is broadcast over the intercom.

She gave an example of giving an alert about three strange people being in the building who have not signed in at the office. Teachers follow up with an appropriate response.

The district recently installed egress windows in classrooms. Beeson said the drill would include using the windows to escape.

She is planning to bring information to the board on purchasing barricades for all classroom doors.

“Our priority is to secure the safety of our students and staff,” Beeson said. “The board is being very progressive in pursuing that goal.”