School Safety

HOLD - “In Your Classroom or Area” 

Students are trained to: 

• Clear the hallways and remain in their area or room until the “AllClear” is announced

• Do business as usual

Adults and staff are trained to:

• Close and lock the door

• Account for students and adults

• Do business as usual

PARENT Information: Hold is called when the school administration needs to ensure clear hallways and limit movement in the building. These are non-threatening situations which may include addressing a medical issue, cleaning up in the hallway, or other temporary concerns. 

Due to the non-threatening nature of these events, communication to parents (outside of anyone directly involved or associated with the event) is typically not necessary.  Teachers and staff may receive additional information from building administration once the event is resolved. 

PARENT Information:   Secure is called when there is something dangerous outside of the building. Students and staff are brought into the building and the outside doors will be locked. The schoolmight display the Building is Secured poster on entry doors or nearby windows. Inside, it will be business as usual.

Should parents come to the school during a secure event?

Probably not. Every effort is made to conduct classes as normal during a secure event. Additionally, parents may be asked to stay outside during a Secure event.

What if parents need to pick up their student?

Depending on the situation, it may not be safe to release the student. As the situation evolves, Secure might change to a Monitored Entry and/or Controlled Release.

Will parents be notified when a school goes into secure?

When a secure event is brief or the hazard is non-violent, like a wild animal on the playground, there may not be a need to notify parents while the Secure is in place.

With longer or more dangerous events, the school should notify parents that the school has increased their security.

LOCKDOWN - “Lock, Lights, Out of Sight” 

Students are trained to: 

• Move away from sight

• Maintain silence

• Do not open the door

Adults and staff are trained to:

• Recover students from hallway if possible

• Lock the classroom door

• Turn out the lights

• Move away from sight

• Maintain silence

• Do not open the door

• Prepare to evade or defend

PARENT Information:   A Lockdown is called when there is something dangerous inside of the building. Students and staff are trained to enter or remain in a room that can be locked, and maintain silence.

A Lockdown is only initiated when there is an active threat inside or very close to the building.

Should parents come to the school during a lockdown?

The natural inclination for parents is to go to the school during a Lockdown. Understandable, but perhaps problematic. If there is a threat inside the building, law enforcement will be responding. It is unlikely that parents will be granted access to the building or even the campus. If parents are already in the school, they will be instructed to Lockdown as well.

Should parents text their students?

The school recognizes the importance of communication between parents and students during a Lockdown event. Parents should be aware though, during the initial period of a Lockdown, it may not be safe for students to text their parents. As the situation resolves, students may be asked to update their parents on a regular basis.

In some cases, students may be evacuated and transported off-site for a student-parent reunification.

What about unannounced drills? 

The school may conduct unscheduled drills, however it is highly discouraged to conduct one without announcing that it as a drill. That’s called an unannounced drill and can cause undue concern and stress.

Parents should recognize that the school will always inform students that it is a drill during the initial announcement.

It’s important to differentiate between a drill and an exercise. A drill is used to create the “Muscle Memory” associated with a practiced action. There is no simulation of an event; this is simply performing the action. An exercise simulates an actual event to test the capacity of personnel and equipment.

PARENT Information:   An Evacuation is called when there is a need to clear the building of all students. A fire drill, or fire, gas leak, etc. would be a likely reason to evacuate. 

Should parents come to the school during an evacuation? No, parents should not come to the school in the case of an evacuation. Parents will be notified of the reunification plans as soon as the situation is resolved. 

SHELTER - “State Hazard and Safety Strategy" 

Hazards might include:

• Tornado

• Hazmat

• Earthquake

Safety Strategies might include:

• Move to shelter area

• Seal the room

• Drop, cover, and hold

Students are trained in:

• Appropriate Hazards and Safety Strategies

Adults and staff are trained in:

• Appropriate Hazards and Safety Strategies

• Accounting for students and adults

• Report injuries or problems using Red Card/GreenCard method.

PARENT Information:   When a Shelter is called, parents should refrain from coming to the area until notified that the situation has been resolved.