School kids react; want to help

Teachers in the Mountain Home School District managed their classes with calm professionalism throughout the national crises of the last week.

Superintendent, Dr. Jerrie LeFevre requested all staff in the district to provide students and parents with the peace of mind of a routine school day and commended the staff for the manner in which they provided, "emotional and physical security to the children..."

"Business as usual," was the order of the day in the elementary and middle schools. Vice Principal of Hacker Middle School, William McCarrel, said that the staff of the building made an effort to "keep everything as normal as possible."

He said that children were a little tense in the morning of the first day, but noted that children were reassured as teachers calmly discussed the events and then went on to a normal classroom routine. McCarrell said that children will take their cue on how to react to such momentous events from adults. He felt that, the calm response of the teachers reassured the children and by lunch time the atmosphere at Hacker Middle School was that of a normal day.

Sandy Herrboldt, principal of Liberty Elementary said that the teachers in her building kept the televisions off in their classes and provided their students with a calm day. The schools on Mountain Home Air Force Base had a few additional elements to deal with.

During certain THREATCONS (threat condition) on military bases, vehicles may not be parked near any building, so teachers parked in outlying alternate parking lots and walked to their buildings. Anyone providing a service to the school has been escorted to and from the base gate by a staff member.

Herrboldt said that military personnel have been extremely helpful in seeing that school business was able to continue as normally a possible.

She noted that the younger children did not seem particularly concerned with the unusual events of the day because they are accustomed to the activity associated with heightened security during military exercises. She said children driven to school from town didn't even seem fazed by the Humvee mounted with a large machine gun and parked at the entrance of the base gate.

However, students in junior high and high school were more aware of the gravity of the situation.

Megan Trently, an 8th grade student at Mountain Home Junior High who lives on the base, said that most children of military personnel are aware of the seriousness associated with the different threat condition designations issued by the military this week.

She said that many students riding the bus home to the base after school on Sept. 11 were nervous when their bus was boarded and searched by security police wearing battle gear. The bus was also inspected externally, including the use of mirrors along its undercarriage. Each day security police have had an escort ride the bus to each stop.

Trently said the students were not as uncomfortable with the procedure by the second and third day. She said the female security escorts made a special effort to talk to kids and help them relax.

Trently and junior high school classmates Danielle Faneuf and Mary Kramer said that the student's reactions were similar to those of adults. They were shocked and found it difficult to grasp the situation. Some were tearful, some feared the base would be attacked, some were afraid to be outside during recess or gym.

High school sophomore Kiley Lippert and Senior Class President, Vicky Kramer said the reaction at the high school was similar.

Students said that teachers and staff were very reassuring and helpful, being available and answering questions in a calm, confident manner.

During the past few days students have found many positive ways to respond to the crisis. At the junior high, a group of students spontaneously gathered around the flag pole to pray, and another group of students and staff arranged to donate all of the proceeds from the concessions at the football game will be donated to the Red Cross for the victims in New York. The leadership class donated $100 to the Red Cross victim relief fund and was preparing a message card to send to New York and Washington, D.C. Art classes were preparing patriotic banners to be placed in the halls this week.

On Tuesday, the girl's choir at the high school went into the halls and sang the National Anthem and students were going out into the community to help collect funds to send to victims.

Dr. LeFevre feels that the professional manner in which the district staff has behaved has been a large factor in the relatively calm environment in all of the buildings. Ray Lamb, Director of Safe and Drug Free Schools, said he believes the measures already in place with the Safe School Standards Program also assisted in helping staff and students feel reassured and safe. Already well in place, the program is designed to cover a number of security contingencies. Staff and visitors are identified with badges and only a few additional measures needed to be taken.

There was an increased awareness of nonessential personnel in the buildings and children, who are usually allowed to sit in the halls and read, were asked to keep the halls clear. Lamb said that other than these measures, things were normal in the schools. He said that there was little call for counselors and commended all of the District staff for the assistance they gave to students and parents.

Dr. LeFevre said that only 50 children were removed from school by their parents on Sept. 11, and since then attendance is back to normal.

Students said that classrooms and the school environment is back to normal as well.