'Everyone wants their loved ones to go home:' Cullman school demos rapid-deploy safe rooms

The City of Cullman added rapid-deploy safe room systems in two elementary school special education classrooms at West Elementary School. The product is designed for school safety for children, teachers, and staff. The ballistic wall unit can deploy under 10 seconds and provides a shield for the entire classroom.

The door locks from the inside and can be controlled by a teacher or administrator. Only trained, certified installers will be able to ensure the product deploys properly.

"I'm a father of four children and send them to public schools. Even as a superintendent or not superintendent, it's my expectation schools keep our children safe. It is a priority in all of our schools. If it's access entry to buildings, cameras, school resource officers," said Kyle Kallhoff, Superintendent of Cullman City Schools. "We are fortunate to have all of those."

SEE ALSO: Jefferson County school bus involved in crash
SEE ALSO: Sylacauga City Schools get head start on teacher recruitment for upcoming school year

Monday morning education leaders held a demonstration at West Elementary School to show how the newly added rapid-deploy safe room system works. In the event of a school shooting, the demonstration showed how the functional white board can expand into a fold-out room to serve as a protective shield.

"It's that easy," said special education teacher Hali Marquette. "I like to leave it out. It's more functional for me. I use this for instructional space, with writing. My kids like to free draw on this side."

Marquette explained how the product has benefited her classroom in the month she's had the rapid-deploy safe room.

"It's been good so far, the kids love it and that's the most important thing, making it a safe place for them," she said.

The product offers NIJ level III protection (up to a .308). Additionally, it can be used as a storm shelter or additional meeting space inside the classroom.

"We have to continually think about what we need to be doing to keep our children safe. Every campus is different. They have multiple entrances, some are right off the street, some are out in the country, sometimes there's a police officer on duty, or sometimes there's a deputy sheriff 20-30 minutes away. So there's no one-size-fits-all solution," said Dr. Eric Mackey, Alabama Superintendent of Schools. "In the case someone comes into a school, the next step is you gotta get the students out of the hallways, out of large spaces cafeterias, gymnasiums, and into a safe locked room. This is one more effort in that to make sure they are in a safe place like that."

Kevin Thomas is the owner of KT Security Solutions, the company which made the product. The idea was sparked after the tragedy in Uvalde, Texas. Thomas said prior, his team was creating ballistic shelters for the military, but shifted his focus after a conversation with his wife, and other members of his team, when discussing security and safety inside schools.

"What we have is a way to save kids. I don't want to be here, it's crazy, but somebody's gotta do it. They asked, I heard the parents on that board over here, those 19 from Uvalde and the spouses of the teachers, said don't let this go nowhere, make it count and that's what we are doing," said Thomas. "I can't control policies, I don't control gun control, I don't control mental illness, I don't control any of that. I'm not a policymaker, I'm just a contractor who lives out in the woods in Jones Chapel, but what we do have control over is the ability to make things that are innovative in the meantime, while we fix the bigger issues, We are going to do the here and now, now."

Thomas explained the product, saying the goal is to save lives.

"That's the key, we get to go home. Everyone wants their loved ones to go home," said Thomas.

Lawmakers were in attendance, such as State Senator Garland Gudger and U.S. Congressman Robert Aderholt, showing support for the idea.

"It makes sense. It's a no-brainer to me. It doesn't take up a whole lot of space. When you need it you are able to implement it fairly quickly and the safety process is impeccable, so I think it's something we should really consider from a state perspective and a country perspective. It's all about how do we protect our children and protect those who people who work in our schools," said House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels. "Visiting those two classrooms touched my heart. As a former third grade teacher and someone who worked in an elementary school, never been at a school where there was a school shooting or an intruder came into the school, but really seeing that, I could really see and visualize myself as a former classroom teacher on how to be able to get those students in that corner, pull out and create this box students can get in, and it's protected, it's bullet proof."

Each of these two rapid-deploy safe rooms costs just under $60,000 each. State leaders and education leaders said they would like to explore options to get state and/or federal funding to implement more of these systems, which would also bring the costs for each unit down.

"If we can show the state and the country, this is what we can do, then maybe we can pick up funding to where every school can have one of these or multiple rooms like this," said Kallhoff. "We're always thinking how can we keep our kids safe and allow our teachers to teach and do what they are paid to do."

Kallhoff said there is a plan to put in more in Cullman City Schools. He said he is working with local partners and the board to strategically place the rapid-deploy safe rooms in areas most vulnerable if an active shooter were to gain entry into the schools.