Safety Communication

Safe and Secure is a security procedure used to reduce student and staff movement outside school buildings. This may be due to medical emergency, area disturbance, etc. It is designed to allow for school to carry forward but have the ability to move to Lockdown quickly if needed. During the Safe & Secure mode, there is heightened vigilance on campus by all school staff. 

• Teachers should continue teaching as normal 
• Allow students restroom use with clear administrator/teacher direction
• Increased available staff presence during passing periods and student dismissal
• Lunch/activities monitored more closely for movement outside of lunch area, unless site admin decides otherwise 
• Standard inclement weather schedule/routine in place, unless site administrator/designee decides otherwise 
• Perimeter gates, where applicable, will be locked and monitored by available staff, allowing for central access points 
• PE classes will be monitored more closely for movement outside of PE area; classes may be moved off all fields into more secure locations (e.g., gym, class, & MPR)

Lock Down is called when a law enforcement event is happening in the vicinity of a school. The law enforcement agency generally, but not always, contacts the school/district to encourage the school site to Lock Down as a precautionary measure. This means all students and staff must stay inside behind locked doors; however it does not mean that there is an active threat occurring on campus.

• Take a look outside your classroom and gather up any stray students in the hallways 
• Ensure that your door is locked 
• Project a calm demeanor to help students remain calm. Reassure students that they are safe 
• Do not allow anyone to leave the classroom 
• Frequently check your emails for possible updates from your site administrators 
• If students are out on the playground or athletic fields, quickly move them to a secure classroom, locker room, or multi-purpose room 
• Teachers continue to keep students engaged in learning

Critical Alert is called when a significant, threatening event is happening on campus or adjacent to campus that creates a potential danger to students and staff. While this may be communicated to the school by law enforcement, it may also be determined by school officials on the scene. Critical Alert assumes that everyone is prepared for a potential significant threat/event on campus. 

• Turn off or reduce lighting, so it will appear that the room is vacant 
• Keep all students sitting on the floor, away from the door or windows 
• Do not look out the windows 
• Advise the students that there is a serious situation, but you don't know what it is. Project a calm demeanor to help students remain calm. Reassure students that they are safe 
• Ensure that everyone in the room turns the ringer off on their cell phones 
• Do not allow students to talk on their cell phones (keep room as quiet as possible) 
• Limit calls to the school office; phones are being used to communicate with parents/guardians and first responders  
• Quietly take roll and make a list of missing students and any extra students that are in your room. Email this list to your administrators and school site secretaries 
• When staff determines, they will direct the evacuation of students they oversee to the designated area; each staff will make this determination based on their specific situation 
• Do not open the door, even if someone knocks and claims to be a staff member (Administrator/custodian will have a master key) 
• If students are out on the PE field, do not return them to the locker room. Move them to a safe place (this may be the farthest part of the campus or off campus); staff must remain with students until reunification 

If you receive a call or text from your student during a lock down or critical alert, urge your student to remain calm and follow the instructions given by a teacher or adult. Please do not go to the school to pick up your student as you will not be allowed to enter the campus. Remember, no one is allowed to enter or leave a campus during a lock down.

Communication of the incident to families via Auto Dialer, letter, social media, etc. will be determined by the Superintendent’s Office or designee. In most cases, any notification(s) to parents will be made AFTER the incident (and/or lockdown) is over.

The District attempts to release verified, accurate information as quickly as possible. Often, social media and other media outlets will report information as it is occurring and that information may not be accurate. Families are encouraged to log into their ParentSquare for precise information.

Circumstances may occur at the school that require parents to pick up their students in a formalized, controlled release. If a parent or guardian is notified that a controlled release and reunification is needed, they will need to bring identification and complete a reunification information form available at the school site. A reunification process may occur at a different location other than the school your student attends depending on the individual situation. The reunification process protects both the safety of the student and provides for an accountable change of custody from the school to a recognized custodial parent or guardian.