New Jersey Schools Conducting Surprise Security Drills
ELIZABETH, N.J. (CBSNewYork) - New Jersey schools are brushing up on their security drills to prepare their students in case they face a situation like the one in Newtown, Connecticut.
The classrooms at Benjamin Franklin School 13 in Elizabeth were perfectly silent seconds after an announcement was made over the intercom in a drill WCBS 880's Monica Miller attended.
"Teachers, students, and guests, this is an active shooter lockdown drill," the announcement said.
New Jersey Schools Conducting Surprise Security Drills
Principal Yalitza Torres checked to see if the window blinds are down and all of the doors are locked.
"That's very important. So most of the kids, they're all away from the door. They're sitting in a corner. They're in a huddle position," Torres told Miller.
Anthony Bland from the state Department of Education said New Jersey has some of the toughest policies in place in the nation, requirements requiring four drills.
"It's an active shooter drill, a lockdown drill, a bomb threat, and a non-fire evacuation," she said.
The drills had been announced ahead of time, but now they're being conducted without prior notice.
Eighth grader Alaceyia said that, after Sandy Hook, she has no problems with a surprise refresher.
"I just stayed aware. I got under the desk and I just got quiet," she said. "If some like that can happen there, it can happen here."
