Task Force to Analyze and Make Recommendations for School System
Diverse Community Group to Focus on Security and Communication
At a 2:00 PM press conference, Madison City and School Board officials announced a task force focused on ways to keep our children safe in our schools. Two key areas will be focused upon: security and communication.
The security component will include the evaluation of current security measures in place at each school and the district as a whole, research best practices in school security, review policies and procedures regarding school resource officers, and finally make recommendations on improvements that can be implemented.
The communication component will include the evaluation of current communications between students, parents, and schools, research existing programs at school districts and communities that exhibit good communications, evaluate current violence and drug awareness programs, learn from best practices from communication and awareness programs, and finally make recommendations on programs and enhancements that can be put in place.
The task force makeup was a collaboration between the Madison City Council, Madison City School Board, Mayor Paul Finley, Police Chief Larry Muncey, and Superintendent Dr. Dee Fowler. The task force members are:
BG (Ret) Robert Drolet - (Co-chair) Respected Community Leader / Madison Resident
Mary Jane Caylor - (Co-chair) State School Board member / Community Leader
Kerry Straub - FBI Agent/Madison Resident with Child in School System
Terry Odum - Professional Security Consultant / Madison Resident
Sgt. Clayton Jordan - Sergeant over School Resource Officer Program
Harwell Davis - Federal Judge / Former FBI/Madison Resident with Child in School System
Rodney Pennywell - Community Leader / Madison Resident with Child in School System
Brandon Pressnell - Youth and Family Minister at Madison Church of Christ
Chris Newlin - Executive Director of National Children’s Advocacy Center / Madison Resident with Child in School System
Dennis James - Principal Columbia Elementary School / Madison Resident with Child in School System
In approximately 45 days, an initial report will be issued and presented at a joint meeting of the Madison City Council and Madison City Board of Education.
A website has been established to allow the community to provide feedback directly to the committee and stay abreast of its progress. The address is www.madisonal.gov/SchoolTaskForce
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Discovery Middle School Briefings- UPDATED 2/12/10 - 4:00 PM
Press conference set for 2:00 PM Monday, February 15th at Madison City Hall to announce a task force to evaluate communication and security aspects in our schools. Members and and specific undertakings will be annouced. Chief Muncey, Mayor Finley, members of the City Council, members of the school board, and Dr. Fowler are collaborating to determine its membership, but none of the aforementioned persons will be members of the task force.
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Discovery Middle School Briefings- UPDATED 2/11/10 - 8:20 AM
No press conferences are scheduled at this.
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Discovery Middle School Briefings- UPDATED 2/8/10 - 12:30 PM
Press conference at 4:00 PM at Discovery Middle School. Please use the main entrance. Please do not arrive before 3:45 PM since there will be a lot of traffic in and around the school. Dr Fowler, Chief Muncey, and Principal Willis will provide an update on the days activities and also provide an escorted tour of the school.
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Monday Afternoon Briefing - UPDATED 2/7/10 - 5:00 PM
School resumed today with increased security and support resources. Madison City School Board members, central office staff, and city officials were at the schools monitoring activity. A few additional items can be provided this evening.
-- Meetings were held this morning with each grade at Discovery starting with the 9th grade. It was a time for reassurance and bonding between students, faculty and administrators.
-- Many have already taken advantage of the Community Support Line and we hope that will continue. Special thanks to the volunteers that have organized and staffed that resource. The number is 772-2883 and will be staffed from 8 AM - 8 PM.
-- The "Todd Brown Angel Fund" has been established at Redstone Federal Credit Union donations can be made at any Redstone Federal Credit Union branch. The funds will go towards supporting the family for funeral expenses and other needs.
-- The funeral will be held this coming Friday at 12:00 noon at Oakwood University Church.
-- At a hearing this morning at the Neaves-Davis Juvenile Detention Center, a motion was made that the suspect be certified as an adult. A certification hearing will be held on Wednesday, February 17th at 10:00 a.m. for a judge to rule on this motion. Until that time, the suspect will be held at the Neaves-Davis Center.
A decision will be made by noon whether an official press conference will be held tomorrow. Additional information will be released as it is available.
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Discovery Middle School Shooting - UPDATED 2/7/10 - 1:50 PM
-- Press Conference Today at 4:00 PM at MCS Central Office
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Discovery Middle School Shooting - UPDATED 2/7/10 - 8:00 PM
-- Community Support Line will be available at 8 AM Monday morning .... 772-2883
-- Video from Community Meeting - provided by HuntsvilleNewswire.com
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Discovery Middle School Shooting - UPDATED 2/7/10 - 5:20 PM
Briefing - Saturday, February 6th
There were technical difficulties that prevented the meeting from being streamed. We are currently working on an alternative way for residents to view the meeting. As soon as that is available, a notice will be posted. A number of items were discussed at the meeting and are being worked.
1. Community Support Line - A community support line has been established. The number is (256) 772-2883. It will be staffed by volunteers trained in counseling starting tomorrow morning (Monday, February 8th) starting at 8 AM and will continue to be staffed until 8 PM. This is not a tip line of informational line. It is a number where people in need of a friendly, caring voice can talk with someone about the incident.
2. Handouts - There were a number of handouts at the community meeting on how to talk to your children about tragedy's such as this. Links to those handouts can be found at www.madisoncity.k12.al.us.
3. Suggestion/Comments on moving forward - In addition to the handouts, the school system will be setting up a link on their website where students, parents, and other concerned citizens can submit suggestions and ideas for the joint task force that will be looking into ways to improve.
We appreciate the continued support of the surrounding communities and all of the encouraging words from residents. We will continue to update you with information as we have it.
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Discovery Middle School Shooting - UPDATED 2/6/10 - 5:55 PM
Briefing - Saturday, February 6th
At a news conference this afternoon, school and law enforcement officials provided an update on the activities in response to the shooting on Friday at Discovery Middle School. School personnel and community leaders held numerous meetings throughout the day to discuss plans for returning to school on Monday and what resources will be in place to support students, parents, and staff.
There will be a community meeting on Sunday at 2:00 PM in the Zompa Auditorium at Bob Jones High School to reflect on the events, share thoughts, and outline a path forward. Mr. Jim Stewart, then principal of Lincoln County High School in Fayetteville, TN will be on hand to discuss his experience and offer thoughts on dealing with such a tragedy as his school did many years ago. The meeting will be streamed live on the Madison City Schools website at www.madisoncity.k12.al.us. Following the meeting, counselors and staff will be on hand to provide support for students and parents that are dealing with the events.
A community support line will be established on Monday and will be staffed by volunteers trained in grief counseling. The number and hours it will be staffed will be provided tomorrow.
Madison City Schools superintendent Dr Dee Fowler said, "Concern for the well being of our children is the top priority for parents, the school system, and the City. Increased police presence will exist at the schools beginning Monday and other local school systems and support organizations are lending assistance to provide extra counseling resources at all schools on Monday."
When asked what else can be done to make our schools safer, Chief Muncey responded, "We all need to open better lines of communication with our children and our students. As parents, we need to be involved on a daily basis and know where our children are, what they are doing, who they are talking to, what websites they a visiting, and create an environment of trust where they feel comfortable sharing information with us."
Chief Muncey also shared that the certification hearing to determine whether the suspect will be tried as a juvenile or as an adult will take place at 1:30 PM on Monday. Until that time, the suspect will continue to be held at the Neaves-David juvenile detention center.
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Discovery Middle School Shooting - UPDATED 2/6/10 - 12:40 PM
A BRIEF UPDATE WILL BE GIVEN AT 4:00 PM AT MADISON CITY SCHOOLS CENTRAL OFFICE LOCATED ON CELTIC DR.
Community support and response meeting will be held this Sunday, February 7th at 2:00 PM at the Bob Jones High School Zompa Auditorium.
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Discovery Middle School Shooting - UPDATED 2/5/10 - 9:32 PM
Community support and response meeting will be held this Sunday, February 7th at 2:00 PM at Bob Jones High School
All basketball games scheduled for Discovery are cancelled. All other games will continue.
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Discovery Middle School Shooting - UPDATED 2/5 - 8:40 PM
Madison officials have confirmed that Todd Brown has died as a result of a shooting this afternoon at Discovery Middle School. The suspect is in custody and has been charged with murder.
This Sunday, February 7th, a community support and response meeting will be held at 2:00 PM at Bob Jones High School. Local church leaders, city officials, school officials, counselors, school resource officers, and other support agencies will discuss and mourn the events of Friday and begin the healing process. All are welcome to attend.
There are many rumors circulating around Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, and other social networking sites. They are merely rumors and hearsay at this point. A full police investigation is underway to uncover the facts of the case. More information will be released as it becomes available.
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Discovery Middle School Shooting - UPDATED 2/5 - 5:08 PM
Madison, AL – At 1:45 pm, emergency personnel responded to a shooting at Discovery Middle School. Todd T. Brown, a 14 year old student, was shot and rushed to Huntsville Hospital. The Huntsville Hospital trauma team was alerted to the incident while the ambulance was enroute. He remains in critical condition at this time.
The shooter was apprehended by the Madison Police Department. No other student, staff, or faculty was injured. The school was in lockdown mode while police secured the scene. Children were released at normal time after police had concluded their initial safety checks.
The City and School Board will be working with the school system counselors and local churches to provide counseling and other support services for the community and especially the parents and students of Discovery Middle School.
Another press conference is scheduled for 8:30 pm tonight to provide further information on the investigation.
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Shooting At Discovery Middle School - UPDATED 2/5/10 - 3:08
Shooting confirmed at DMS. Victim at Huntsville Hospital. Shooter in custody. All other students safe and accounted for. Will be released at normal time. Press conference at 4:30 PM at Madison Fire Station #2 for further update.
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Shooting At Discovery Middle School - UPDATED 2/5/10 - 2:15 PM
Shooting confirmed at DMS. Victim at Huntsville Hospital. Shooter in custody. All students safe and accounted for. Will probably be released at normal time. Press conference at 3:00 PM at Madison Fire Station #2 for further update.