Columbine Set To Reopen
When Columbine High School's halls fill with students next week, more than two dozen new security measures will be in place, CBS News Correspondent Bob McNamara reports.
Not only will there be triple the number of security cameras and self-locking doors, but on the advice of a task force studying school safety, panic alarms will be installed in offices to alert police to trouble. There will be student hot lines to report incidents of harassment, intimidation and violence. And I.D. cards will be required to be worn by students and staff.
"As a parent, I feel very strongly that students should wear I.D.s and faculty and every staff member in the high school," said Kelly Daniel.
But the I.D. cards may be a fashion problem.
"The students that I have talked to are against the idea. Two students that were with us on the task force are also against the idea," said student Sergio Gonzalez.
And because of apparent emergency radio confusion in the first minutes after the Columbine massacre started, school security and police will now share the same radio frequency.
"On August 16th, we will be ready to take back this school and once again be Columbine High School," said Frank DeAngelis, the school's principal.
Hoping to learn from the massacre, a Colorado commission will review how authorities and school officials responded to the tragedy that left 15 people dead.
The panel will recommend ways to prevent and prepare for similar events, and a report will be issued to the public.
"We need to learn as much as possible from Columbine to help prevent similar tragedies," Gov. Bill Owens said Tuesday.
The panel, which will be financed with a $68,800 federal grant, will be formed after Jefferson County sheriff's deputies complete their investigation into the shooting attack. Emergency response crews, law enforcement agencies and SWAT teams received some criticism after the tragedy.
"The goal is not to criticize or blame but to learn lessons across the board," said Troy Eid, the governor's chief counsel.
The panel, to be composed of 12 experts on law enforcement, school safety and public education, will also review the emergency medical response and evacuation protocols and techniques used at Columbine.
Owens announced plans to create the commission as Jefferson County school officials paid tribute to Dave Sanders, the only teacher killed April 20 when Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold opened fire and hurled bombs in the school. Twelve students were also killed and 23 others injured before the gunmen committed suicide.
As gunfire and explosions echoed through the cafeteria, Sanders raced through Columbine's hallways, herding students to safety. Shot twice in the chest, he bled to death in a classroom several hours later.