District Upgrades Security Policy From 'Throw Stones'

A rural school district in Pennsylvania that has armed teachers and students with rocks to ward off potential school shooters has arranged for armed security, reports the AP. Blue Mountain School District Superintendent David Helsel said in a statement posted on the district's website that "Starting tomorrow and into the near future, we have arranged for additional armed security for our buildings." Helsel says media attention over the district's planned response to school shooters "has increased our concern regarding the possibility that something may happen."

Last week, Helsel said every classroom in the district about 90 miles northwest of Philadelphia has a 5-gallon bucket of river stones. He said the rocks are one small part of the district's overall security plan. The Allentown Morning Call quotes this from the school's policy: "Students and teachers in locked down classrooms are to put up physical barricades. If the intruder gets past these barricades, all students are to Counter their entry by throwing items at the intruder to inflict as much damage as possible and protect themselves. When will the river stones actually be used? This is a last resort! Throwing river stones or other items will only be used if all other steps have been taken to avoid contact with an intruder."

(More school shootings stories.)