Gun control concept. Young armed man holds pistol in hand in public place near high school

Sycamore Community Schools in Blue Ash, Ohio — comprised of seven schools and a little more than 5,000 students — is training its custodians to recognize the sound of gunfire, according to an article on the WCPO website.

District support service director David Foster said maintenance and custodial staff often have greater familiarity with the layout of their building than other staffers, and they're more likely to be the first to see a threat enter the building.

"The shooting in New Mexico in December, it was a custodian in the hallway who was able to stop that shooting from continuing," Foster said in the article. "I thought it was important that we train these folks in case that the inevitable does happen here."

C.J. Osborn's has been working at Blue Ash Elementary School from 26 years. Osborn and dozens of other school custodians recently completed a two-hour active shooter response training that included simulated shots.

"I want them to hear what it's like for gunfire to go off," Foster said -- as well as strategizing which doors would be best to barricade in order to keep a shooter out and rehearsing the correct way to inform students and teachers of the situation.”

The training also included an active-shooter drill in which some custodians ran, some barricaded and Osborn hid, waiting to take down the gunman.

"I like the kids," Osborn said in the article. "I love the kids. So, I'm here to protect the kids if I have to. (Parents) should feel good that we really care about their kids, and we're here to protect them if we have to."

Read the full article.