8-17-2023 4:42am

Alamogordo Public Schools Shelter in Place Lifted

Chris Edwards Editor

The Alamogordo Public School System ordered Shelter in place for Alamogordo High School, Mountain View Middle School, Desert Star Elementary, and Yucca Elementary School for a short time on Wednesday due to a nearby police activity. It was reported on social media then later confirmed there was a police activity concerning a hit and run with a suspect fleeing and then a search for the suspect.

As an extra safety precaution the school system ordered shelter in place protocols to be executed. These protocols can be unnerving to parents as community information can be limited especially when a police action is involved.

An alert was posted on social media by the Alamogordo Public schools notifying of the shelter in place and then that it was lifted at 4:22 pm on Wednesday…

⚠️” Due to law enforcement presence in the area, Alamogordo High School, Mountain View Middle School, Desert Star Elementary, and Yucca Elementary School are in shelter-in-place.
All afternoon & evening practices have been suspended until the shelter-in-place is lifted. Students that are currently on campus are safely sheltered in the buildings.

Please check here, your email, or with your coach for further updates. Thank you”

“UPDATE 4:22pm: Shelter-in-place has been lifted. ”

In a story published last year an Alamogordo Public Schools spokesperson explained their insights about how the community and schools are prepared should a shooting like the one at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas happen in Alamogordo or other situations that might result in a Shelter in Place to ensure student safety.

"Safety of staff and students is the number one priority," …"We have a strong team of security liaisons, many of whom are retired police officers in our schools.”

All Alamogordo Public Schools teachers and staff are trained in emergency drills from lockdown to shelter-in-place to evacuations.”

There is a difference between lockdown and shelter-in-place. A Shelter-in-place could happen if a student is experiencing a medical emergency, for example, to keep the halls clear for emergency personnel, or in a situation like Wednesday when a police action is happening nearby. The order of shelter in place is to prevent intruders from campus and as an extra precaution to student safety.

All (shelter-in-place) does is just keep students and staff in their internal environment without threat of an external threat.

Lockdowns can happen when there is police activity near a school but not necessarily on campus.

Other preparations for student safety to buildings include safeguards like security vestibules at all school entrances, fencing around Alamogordo High School, regular drills and direct radio links between Alamogordo Public Schools and local law enforcement including Otero County Sheriff's Office and Alamogordo Police Department.

There is a close partnership with the Alamogordo Police. Sixteen Alamogordo Police Officers who serve as school resource officers are assigned to schools. The officers are at all Alamogordo middle schools, Alamogordo High School and many of the elementary schools.

As to the drills, Alamogordo Public Schools by state law has to conduct lockdown, shelter-in-place and evacuation drills throughout the school year.

If a student was in the restroom or was otherwise not in a classroom when the drill begins, the students are directed to safe spaces throughout the school building with security directing them.

The shelter in place ordered Wednesday was a short time and was a collaborative effort with Alamogordo Police as an extra security measure to ensure student safety.

NOTE: Story updated Thursday- a second shelter in place occurred at Mountain View Middle School per a release from the school it is now lifted…

“Please be aware that Mountain View Middle School was temporarily placed in a shelter-in-place due to a medical emergency. The 𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐫-𝐢𝐧-𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐝, and all involved parties have been contacted. Alamogordo Public Schools takes the safety of all our students and staff seriously and works closely with first responders to ensure all precautions are taken in each unique situation.

➡️ Parents/Guardians, you should have received this message via School Messenger. If you did not, please check your settings in School Messenger and verify that your contact info is correct in PowerSchool.”

If you appreciate independent news please consider support. Research, analysis, and writing takes time and effort…

https://2ndlifemediaalamogordo.town.news/support.