NORTH HARFORD HIGH SCHOOL
211 PYLESVILLE ROAD, PYLESVILLE, MD 21132
410-638-3650
VOLUME 43 ISSUE 1
SEPTEMBER 27, 2019
Active shooter training implemented; Staff prep for potential school crisis ELLIE EVANS EMILY IAMPIERI Editors One June 19, HCPS staff attended active shooter training with the hopes of preparing all HCPS employees to cope with active threats and workplace violence. The new Active Assailant Critical Response Training (AACRT) was created to ensure all schools meet the goal of having a safe environment for the HCPS school system.The training was organized through professional development through central office. Teachers, supervisors, principals, volunteered to be trainers during the activities. According to principal Mr. Brian Pawlicki, “It [AACRT] is a county-wide initiative and not just one at NHHS.” He added that such training has become necessary because of the way school shootings have changed throughout the country and “the outcome [of a school crisis] can be much better if people react in a different way.” He also hoped that the NH
faculty and staff realize “their actions can make a difference in Hawk’s lives being saved.” All teachers and instructional staff were trained in various locations around the county the day after school let out. The NH principal said there was classroom instruction first so “teachers could understand the process first,” and then they received “an actual scenario where we went through different activities that modeled what could happen in an event.” Teachers responded well to the training including Drama teacher Nancy Green as she explained, “while it was a very traumatic experience, I do feel much more prepared.” Not only
did teachers need to go through the training but also all staff and administrators. This including secretary Barb Matthews who explained, “I most definitely feel more prepared , the main office is slightly different than classrooms while it has more windows and less hiding options.” Data was collected “to show how the way that people react could make a difference in how many people survive an incident,” according to Pawlicki. He says that the strategies they were taught come down to three responses. “It’s called run, hide, or fight based on what sce-
nario you are in and what advantages you can use to make sure people aren't victims.” There was some follow-up to the initial AACRT training, and that involved individual schools looking at the school they work at in terms of unique character of different classrooms, the building layout, where that school is demographically in the county. “Those types of things influence on how quickly police could respond,” Pawlicki added. According to Pawlicki, there are plans to have students receive training by the end of the first quarter. “It’ll be more of a talk-through event. Much like when you're on an airplane and the stewardess goes over how to escape the plane, teachers will go over what is the best response in a classroom if there is an active shooter,” he explains. Pawlicki believes that this training had a generally positive response, adding “people felt empowered that they could make decisions during an actual crisis.” He thinks that“the
biggest takeaway is you can make your own decisions based on the situation you're in.” He recognizes that it’s not just in schools that this training can help, and suggests this training could be used “when you’re at a restaurant, a mall, at a movie theater since these can relate to other incidences that we could find ourselves in.” Beyond preparing the teachers and staff, this training hit many teachers with the, “disheartening and disturbing reality that is our lack of gun regulation,” explained Green. She demonstrated the sadness that came with the necessity of active shooter training by saying, “as a teacher, I would rather see the government pass reasonable gun control laws rather than subjecting our students and teachers to damage control.” Art teacher Lisa Campbell explained, “to make the situation more of a reality, I feel as though it should be an in-house training.” Overall, teachers and staff were both alarmed and grateful for the implementation of this training.
assistant principal Pawlicki explained that science educator Mr. Douglas Heeter has taken over parking, as a former physical education teacher and coach, Mr. Justin Martinek handled the specifics in past years. Band and orchestra director Mr. John Wojciechowski has taken leadership over the school’s official website. Librarian Mr. Bob Ott has taken over the task of maintaining the accessibility of the school kindles and television message boards. As North Harford receives added support from Upper Bay Services, the effects ripple. Multiple modifications have taken place in the master schedule to accommodate for the decreased number of teachers serving at North Harford. Thus, the opening days of school were much different for teachers as Principal Pawlicki predicts that these differences will impact the entirety of the year.
Pawlicki acknowledges that changes have not only impacted the staff of North Harford and the students as well. Along with these amendments, Pawlicki addressed the fact that the modifications made in the master schedule have made classes noticeably larger, with upwards of 38 students placed in one classroom at a time. With the adjustments in class sizes, the opportunity to adjust a student’s schedule and change classes lessen. Principal Pawlicki acknowledges the challenges that often come with change. “The biggest challenge has been the master schedule and the large class sizes,” Pawlicki expressed. While both students and staff adjust to a year different from those of the past, the adjustment from serving as a principal rather than assistant principal may go unnoticed. For instance, there is a big dif-
ference between the information that a principal receives versus that of an assistant principal receives from a day to day basis, as stated byPawlicki. Along with this, the type of issues brought to Pawlicki’s attention also differ from those brought to his attention in previous years. Multiple sources including parents, students and outside -county agencies bring forth such issues. It has been acknowledged that all schools of Harford County have been impacted by these changes. Some of these impacts include the effect on class sizes that budget cuts cause, he acknowledged the negatives and positives of this situation and plans to assist all teachers and staff throughout the year. Principal Pawlicki’s promotion is one of many adjustments that will make the school’s upcoming years unique and bring forth the potential for more change.
“It’s
called run,
hide, or fight based
on what scenario you are in and what ad-
vantages you can use to make sure people aren’t victims.” -Pawlicki
Pawlicki previews plans for school year
MADISON FEATHERSTON past years. Reporter
Leadership roles have changed as former Principal Colin Carr’s shoes are filled by Principal Bryan Pawlicki. After As the seasons change, North serving for over 16 years in the Harford’s students and staff gear ministry, Pawlicki has switched up for a new year, unique from gears from assistant principal to principal. Photo Credits: Madison Featherston While the reduction of North Harford’s administration staff this year seems out of sorts, a portion of assistance principal’s duties has been fulfilled North Harford has a new principal, Mr. by staff Brian Pawlicki. He took the job after Mr. members. Colin Carr accepted a promotion at the Former
BOE.