This month marks the one-year anniversary of the tragic shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School. While local police and school administrators hope to never deal with a similar situation, they want to be prepared.

To that effect, school committees in Marion, Mattapoisett and Rochester have all approved the implementation of A.L.I.C.E, which stands for Alert-Lockdown-Inform-Choice-Evacuate.

The program is an alternative to simply locking down a school when a violent intruder is present. Working alongside police, Old Rochester Regional High School Assistant Principal Mike Parker is leading the effort.

Junior and high school students and staff will receive training first. The biggest difference will be a shift from the previous method’s shelter in place philosophy, Parker said.

The new training lets staff take students out of the building once the location of the threat is identified.

“It’s a different approach instead of just sitting in a room,” Parker said.

Mattapoisett Police Chief Mary Lyons also said, “If you can get out, get out. We’re really promoting common sense tactics.”

Once A.L.I.C.E. is implemented in the upper grades it will be tailored for elementary school students.

School Committee members questioned how young students would handle the change.

Speaking to the Marion School Committee, Police Chief Lincoln Miller said the upper grades would learn to evade and distract potential intruders alongside staff.

“The difference in the elementary schools is the onus is on the teacher,” Miller said.

Committee members asked Miller what would happen if parents disagree with the new program.

“I don’t think that parents won’t agree. We need to educate them and let them know this new approach gives teachers options,” he said.

Information sessions will be scheduled soon to educate the community and parents on A.L.I.C.E.

Rochester Police Chief Paul Magee told his town’s School Committee that administrators and police are in agreement on the new approach.

“It’s our vision, the tri-town police chiefs and school administrators, to see a uniform program in the schools,” he said.

School shootings across the country prompted police to reexamine how students and staff are taught to react. Magee said teaching evacuation – when safe to do so – was the missing component.

He assured members the training would be appropriate for Rochester students.

“What may be age appropriate for high school students might not work for younger kids,” he said. “I don’t expect to teach children how to counter a gunman at the elementary school. With that said, we need to give teachers and administrators and students the best information to be safe.”

Parker, Rochester officer Kevin Flynn and Mattapoisett patrolman Matthew McGraw have already received training and been certified in A.L.I.C.E.

McGraw said it allows people to make flexible decisions, based on the situation.

“It boils down to commonsense and survivability,” McGraw said. “This lets teachers and staff make decisions that aren’t fearful.”

Magee said the departments want to have A.L.I.C.E ready by next fall. Training is expected to begin in the junior and high schools sometime this school year.