Letter to the Editor: If you could save 1,924 lives in 32 minutes, would you?

As a parent of school-aged children in the Quincy school system, I wish to voice my concerns concerning the elevated threats of gun violence in our local schools and raise questions regarding this issue.

I have read that common walk-through metal detectors can scan a person about every second. Why isn’t every student scanned by the metal detectors as they enter school?

• Quincy High School has approximately 1,924 students. That would equal 32 minutes of scanning under optimal conditions. Allowing double the time, it should be done in just over an hour in less than optimal conditions.
• Baldwin elementary has approximately 573 students. Time to scan 10 to 20 minutes.
• Rooney elementary school has 489 students. Time to scan 8 to 16 minutes.
• Lincoln Douglas Elementary, Denman Elementary and Iles Elementary all average a little more than 550 students: 9-18 minutes to scan.
• All of these schools are overseen by one single resource officer?

The Quincy Police Department has 73 sworn officers. Why isn’t at least one officer stationed at each school?  There are only 10 schools in the district.

More officers are assigned to the K of C barbeque than our schools. The Adams County Fair has more sheriff’s department deputies on patrol.

Superintendent Dr. Todd Pettit’s statements during the Sept. 26 press conference are misleading and contradictory at best. He said we need to “trust him with our children and trust that your schools are safe.” 

So tell us: What you have done to make them safe? Words alone do not equate to safety. We want concrete actions to ensure the safety of our children. You need real actions, not words, if you wish to assure the parents that their children’s safety comes first.

He also said the staff members have anxiety and trepidation about coming to school everyday. If he suffers anxiety just going to school, that doesn’t bode well.

He wants us to trust him when the school environment causes him anxiety? 

He said the school staff is prepared for an emergency like this, yet they proved not to be prepared at all.

I have two children who attend Quincy High School, and I was not contacted by the school — not by phone, not by text, not through Skyward. 

I had to learn through my child, who texted me in fear for his life. After I withdrew my children from school, I later received the automated call that went out so it wasn’t a mix-up or not having up-to-date contact information. 

I would like to know what security measures are being taken. To date, the only thing that has been done at Quincy High School is a random bag check of possibly one student of every 30.

 My daughter is in her last year at Quincy High School, and she’s working very hard to graduate. Now she suffers anxiety about her grades. She’s trying to keep perfect attendance because she’s trying to maintain her T.A. position, which is needed for the credit for her to graduate.

In reality, she has to choose every day whether or not she is risking her life by just going to school. Children should not be living with that anxiety. 

On the second day of the threats, she expressed her concern and was told it was just a prank. Don’t worry about it! She said the security and staff continued as if nothing had happened, and somebody had just threatened to shoot up the school for a second day in a row. 

I have gone to the school to bring a hat to my son. No one instructed me to walk through the metal detector.  Nobody acted the slightest bit concerned or even acknowledged that security protocols are in effect.

My children live in constant anxiety, fear and worry about their safety. Taking every threat as if it is a prank is foolhardy. 

Has anyone asked the question: What if that is the plan? Make prank call after prank call and wait for the authorities to automatically assume all are prank calls. After the authorities have relaxed or directed their attention and resources elsewhere, then do the deed?

I would like to say the authorities and school staff are taking this matter seriously, but are they?

For me, the math is simple. If you could save 1,924 lives in 32 minutes, would you?

I certainly would. 

Lacey Rockwell
Quincy, Illinois