Paterson Public Schools hosted a specialized emergency preparedness training at John F. Kennedy High School on Thursday.

A company called Critical Response Group led the training, using a map of the school grounds to walk personnel through emergency scenarios.

"The way we drill and practice things with the school, with the police, is teaching you the best way to survive," said Dalton Price, director of security at the Paterson Public School District. "If you're doing the opposite of that, you're actually preparing yourself for the worst scenario, which could cost you or a student your lives."

CRG generates maps of school buildings all over the state and the country. The company said its goal is to create simple, clear renderings that people inside a school can use to communicate with people outside the school during an emergency.

"We learn every time one of those tragedies happens. So, everything that's learned in an unfortunate, tragic event, we go back to our plans," said Rodney Henderson, deputy superintendent of Paterson Public Schools. "What might have been very, very good five years ago may now be obsolete. So, we have to make sure that we're staying one step ahead of people who are trying to harm our students or staff."

CRG officials used their maps to walk through several scenarios with staff and local police, like a school shooting or a dangerous person in the building.

"They need to know the resources that exist outside the building on top of what they're doing, and this program is to teach them that other people are working to keep you safe while you're inside keeping the students safe," Price said.