Published on 7/5/2017.
EPSCo Meeting Minutes
10/12/2016
1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Boardroom.
Present: Trish Blair, Catherine Cox, Robert Ekholdt, Joe Hash, Alison Hodges, Wendy Jones, Pam Long, Burk McBride, Sandi Petersen, Daniel Potts (DN), Florin Rowe (ASCR), Ron Waters.
Guests: Damian Kelsey and Crystal Morse.
ACTIVE SHOOTER
Damian Kelsey and Crystal Morse joined us to speak about students with disabilities and/or special needs. Damian’s disabilities confine him to a wheelchair and he articulated what his concerns would be if he were to be in the melee of an active shooter, fire or other life-threatening event. Burk posed a few questions to Damian including how fast his wheel chair can travel and what his main concerns would be in a high-stress situation:
- Damian replied that his wheelchair can go 5 mph when fully charged.
- He would prefer that someone just hoist him over their shoulder like a “sack of potatoes.”
- Damian requested training materials, digital, video or written information about Active Shooter situations so that he can have some insight and mental preparation as to surviving such events.
- Designating a classroom buddy.
The aforementioned responses prompted much discussion about instructor / faculty responsibilities, student responsibilities, and revisiting the push to purchase evacuation chairs for the campus’ multi-story buildings. It was mentioned that since we have a new HR director, perhaps we can garner support towards the effort. Burk put the item to a vote and the group responded unanimously, “AYE.”
Crystal Morse, who is the director of the Veterans’ Resource Center relayed to us what we can expect from a military veteran who experiences episodes of PTSD. The following bullets were her top concerns:
- Due to the nature of a military veteran’s PTSD, it is imperative that they are not physically touched. Physical contact can produce adverse effects and a veteran could become violent. Stay clear and wait it out.
- Military training teaches soldiers to remain calm, to neutralize a situation, identify hazards and to take charge when leadership is not present. They will be looking for who is in charge. If they are aware that those in charge will be wearing green vests then we need to get that information to them.
- The veterans are not combat ready and that they are students first.
- A clear and concise Active Shooter awareness training model would be helpful.
Wendy Jones spoke next. EPSCo member and director for the college’s CDC, Wendy informed the group about the CDC’s emergency preparedness plans:
- They have a clear evacuation plan.
- They perform a fire drill monthly.
- They are in the process of acquiring trash cans and filling them with emergency supplies. The CDC has received donations from local businesses, including Pierson’s for useful items like hand-cranked flashlights.
Discussion continued with Catherine Cox suggesting that we have an Active Shooter presentation in the Theater and to offer the presentations on Flex Times that are other than the usual Flex Times. Along the same lines, Joe Hash surmised that the Faculty would be in favor of attending Active Shooter trainings.
Dan Potts informed us that they had a Del Norte county-wide training in the works and that it was canceled due to safety concerns of students.
Thorin Rowe, who serves on the student senate, offered to have information or a survey of sorts asking students if they would be interested in an Active Shooter / Emergency Preparedness training/presentation.
UPDATE ON SAFETY ISSUES
Firing Range
Burk informed us that the installation of the phone units would begin on 10.13.14. This includes an alarm system to notify anyone at the shooting range to cease fire if an event is taking place on the main campus.
Notification Units
Burk informed us that sirens will be installed on CDC and other main campus buildings as well as DN and Eureka sites.
FEMA TRAININGS – NIMS-ICS-100
Ron Waters reminded us that both the 100 and 700 ICS trainings are mandated by the State that all staff and faculty must take these trainings.
CERT TRAINING
Tabled for next meeting.
###