ALPINE TOWNSHIP, Mich. - Michigan schools are seeing more threats. In Kent County, the Sheriff's Office has investigated 30 school shooting tips in 2018.
One state lawmaker addressed the threats, introducing a bill that would require the Michigan State Police to create an active shooter training program for all public schools. Each school would conduct at least one drill per year.
Lockdown drills are maybe becoming a thing of the past, said Deputy Tim Erhardt, Kent County Sheriff's Department's school resource officer for Kenowa Hills Public Schools.
"There should be more options than just locking the doors and hiding in the corner," Erhardt said. "You should be able to get out of the building if that's an option. If running is not an option, you should hide and prepare to fight."
Last Summer, Erhardt trained some Kenowa Hills staff members in an active shooting training program called R.H.F: Run, Hide, Fight. Students at the middle and high schools participated in the drills once the school year started.
"We have half [the students] actually flee the building for the drill," Erhardt said. "And the other half goes into the hide-fight mode."
Staff members and students feel safer with R.H.F. than a traditional lockdown drill, said Brett Zuver, principal at Kenowa Hills High School.
"[The drills] are quite often unannounced, so [the students] are ready to move in the blink of an eye," Zuver said. "And it's been very impressive how quickly they've been able to adapt to this."
Having a specialized drill for active shooters will help kids with their instincts, said Josh Schab, a parent of three from Grand Rapids.
"Given the fact that [school shootings] have happened recently, over and over again, it's important," Schab said. "I think schools should do it just like any other drill."
The one-page bill, which was referred to the Committee on Education Reform, is part of the Michigan House school safety plan.
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