Menu
Portageville School District hold intruder training simulations
The Portageville School District conducted active shooter training on Monday, April 2 in the Portageville Middle School. A similar training session was also held in the elementary school. "This was a coordinated training effort with state, county and local law enforcement agencies, as well as the county ambulance department," said Superintendent of Schools Michael Allred.
"This training will be used to better prepare our staff and students in case of an emergency situation."
The school district was let out at 12 noon for the teacher training event.
"We would like to thank the valuable law enforcement professionals and ambulance personnel for conducting/participating in the active shooter training scenarios. These agencies are very valuable assets to our students and community," said Allred.
"Basically what we are doing today is a training drill for a critical incident," said Master Sergeant Dennis Rainey with the Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP). "Mr. Allred asked us to come and provide additional training for the school's safety and security and to include a medical response and the Portageville Police Department." With recents school shootings in Florida and Kentucky, this has made folks think about the need for more awareness and the ability to be prepared, he added.
Portageville Police Chief Ronnie Adams said, "It was a real good event, and I hope we can have some more of these types of training events. As an trained law enforcement officer, you still learn new or different things, and at the same time reinforce things you already know."
"As a member of the Portageville School Board, this type of training showed the teachers and some of the participating students the importance of getting prepared in case something like this happens in here. That's all the more reason why we need to work on getting funding to have a full time school resource officer."
As for now, the City of Portageville is proposing once again of placing a quarter of one percent sales tax on the August ballot, noted Adams. "For every time you spend $4.00 locally, the tax is one penny (1¢), or for every $100 spent, the tax is one quarter (25¢)," explained Adams.
The question being asked is "Shall the City of Portageville impose a sales tax of one-fourth of one percent solely for the purposes of providing revenues for law enforcement services in the City, said tax to expire ten (10) years from the effective date thereof?"
The agencies that helped included the Portageville Police Department, New Madrid County R-1 School Resource officer Anthony Young, Missouri State Highway Patrol, the New Madrid County Ambulance District, Lorna Turnage and the A+ Family Clinic staff.
"I just want to tip my hat off to the Portageville school administrators and staff. They do a lot of good here and are very concerned about the safety of these kids," said Rainey.
He also noted that he has been here before and led some training, and this type of training has been conducted in several churches and school within the Zone 10 area of Troop E. for more information about this training, please call Troop E headquarters in Poplar Bluff. The number to call is 573-840-9500.
