West Chester Area School District Receives Third-Year Alice Certification
The ALICE Training Institute has officially designated the West Chester Area School District (WCASD) as an ALICE Certified Organization for the third consecutive year. ALICE, an acronym for Alert, Lock-down, Inform, Counter, and Evacuate, equips both staff and students with valuable safety options, situational awareness, and survival skills for school and life.
ALICE training is a rigorous process that integrates online learning modules on school safety and drills involving both staff and students. WCASD, now in its fourth year of training, is dedicated to ensuring the ongoing preparedness and resilience of its school community.
After having first trained school staff in the ALICE program through online modules, the WCASD moved into the next phase of staff training with hands-on scenario drills. Following this phase, WCASD’s safety team reinforced critical strategies with staff and introduced students and families to the program. In the current phase, WCASD continues its commitment to safety by conducting ongoing training sessions to help staff stay connected to key ALICE concepts and holding regular drills to ensure that students and staff remain prepared to respond effectively in emergency situations. This proactive approach emphasizes the importance of readiness and reinforces a culture of safety throughout the district.
Public Safety Manager, Rik Thornton, expressed gratitude to the district's dedicated team of safety professionals, WCASD staff, families, and students for their collective efforts in achieving the third-year ALICE certification. Thornton remarked, “this achievement highlights the strong partnership and shared dedication of our safety team, WCASD staff, families, and students in making safety a top priority. Receiving a third-year ALICE certification reflects our proactive commitment to creating a secure and supportive environment for everyone in our schools.”
The West Chester Area School District remains steadfast in its pursuit of excellence in safety protocols and is proud to continue fostering a secure environment for all students, staff, and stakeholders.
“This would not be possible without our Safety Department,” added Thornton. “Their dedication, professionalism, and continuous efforts to implement and communicate critical safety procedures have played a key role in achieving our third-year ALICE certification.”