For a second year in a row, Columbia Public Schools will participate in intruder training. This training is a practice exercise where teachers and staff, along with law enforcement officials, will conduct potential scenarios in which a dangerous intruder is on school premises.

"It is imperative that our employees and law enforcement officers are prepared for a variety of possible crisis situations that could occur," Superintendent Phyllis Chase said.

According to a Columbia Public Schools' press release, Columbia Public Schools' staff and local law enforcement will be involved in three ten-hour training sessions. The sessions will consist of classroom instruction, an overview the history of school violence, and building intruder simulations.

75 teachers and administrations from the district and 100 to 120 police department officers from the following towns will participate:

• Columbia
• Ashland
• Hallsville
• Centralia

Missouri State Highway Patrol and Columbia Fire Department also slated to participate.

Sessions to be held on Wednesdays. They will be held on July 23 at Jefferson Junior High School, July 30 at Rock Bridge High School, and Aug. 6 at Fairview Elementary School. Buildings will be closed to those not involved with training.

Some participants will get a refresher and some are new to this experience. Officer John Warner says this is a continuation of training for teachers and officers.

"This type of pre-planning and training will make us better equipped to handle emergency situations proactively rather than reactively as the safety of our students and staff is of the utmost importance," Chase said.