How prepared are Canyons District employees, students, and local law enforcement to respond to a Columbine-like crisis?

Beginning this week, Canyons high school students will gather in assemblies to hear of lessons learned from recent school shootings, how to spot and report suspicious activity to prevent acts of violence, and be given an opportunity to participate in Canyons’ School Safety Drill planned for June 18 at Alta High School.

The “Plan, Prepare, Protect” assemblies will involve principals, District officials, school counselors, the Utah School Boards Association and local law enforcement in relaying Canyons’ efforts to keep employees and students safe, and provide an opportunity for emergency responders to practice and fine-tune their tactics in the event a gunman enters a school.

The assemblies will feature Tami Diaz, who tells what it was like to be a student at Columbine High School during the deadliest high school shooting in U.S. history. In that incident, two Colorado students launched a grisly attack on their peers and teachers. Twelve students and a teacher were killed; 23 others were wounded.

The assemblies are scheduled as follows:

• Alta – Wednesday, April 11
• Hillcrest – Thursday, April 12
• Jordan – Monday, April 16
• Brighton – TBD

Also, the Utah Division of State Risk Management is working with Canyons as a model school district to create a statewide training video. The division has secured a contract with a media company that services KUED to provide the footage, and will partner closely with the District on the editorial content and presentation.