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Superintendent says district held all-day safety training after recent threats
Summary
Dr. Heil told the school board the district scheduled 45–60 minute safety trainings at every site following recent threats; he said protocols had not been reviewed in about three years and emphasized building-level leadership and staff decision-making during emergencies.
Dr. Heil, superintendent, told the Albert Lea Public School District board that the district held an all-day series of safety trainings at every school after recent threats affecting the district.
"Today's a training day," Dr. Heil said, describing 45- to 60‑minute sessions he delivered at each site to ensure staff heard the district's protocols directly from him. He said the trainings ran from about 7:30 a.m. to a little after 3:00 p.m. on the same day.
Dr. Heil told the board he found uneven familiarity with emergency protocols across the district and that "for about the past 3 years, we really haven't reviewed the safety protocols with staff." He said some schools responded more consistently in prior incidents than others and that the sessions aimed to standardize responses and strengthen internal communications.
The superintendent said the training emphasized leadership at the building and classroom levels and taught staff specific words and actions — including "hold, secure mode, lockdown, evacuation, shelter in place" — while also seeking to avoid frightening younger students. "We also need to talk about it so they don't get scared about it," he said.
Dr. Heil gave a practical example he said he had learned from working through similar incidents: if a teacher evacuates students into a nearby open garage, they should call 911 and notify the school so students are safe, even if a homeowner might be upset later. "As a superintendent I'll deal with a mad at homeowner," he said, adding that local law enforcement likely would support such decisions when student safety is at risk.
Board members asked no formal questions on the report. The superintendent said staff thanked him for the direct conversations and that the training helped clarify where protocols need strengthening.
The board did not take a formal vote on the training itself during the meeting; the superintendent described it as an administrative action he had arranged and carried out.
