School Safety

The Board recognizes that its responsibility for the safety of students extends to its reaction to possible natural and man-made disasters and that such emergencies are best met by preparedness, planning, and training as determined by the District Administrator consistent with the Board-approved school safety plan.

Each school uses a school safety plan in accordance with State requirements, which is reviewed and approved annually by the Board. The plan contains guidelines and procedures to address school violence and attacks, threats of school violence and attacks, bomb threats, fire, weather-related emergencies, intruders, parent‐student reunification, and threats to non‐classroom events, including recess, concerts and other performances, athletic events, and any other extra-curricular activity or event.

Standard Response Protocol (SRP)

Our school has adopted The “I Love U Guys” Foundation’s Standard Response Protocol (SRP). Students and staff will be training, practicing, and drilling the protocol.

The Standard Response Protocol (SRP) is based on an all-hazards approach as opposed to individual scenarios. SRP utilizes clear common language while allowing for flexibility in protocol.

The premise is simple - there are five specific actions that can be performed during an incident. When communicating these, the action is labeled with a “Term of Art” and is then followed by a “Directive.” Execution of the action is performed by active participants, including students, staff, teachers, and first responders. The SRP is based on the following actions: Hold, Secure, Lockdown, Evacuate, and Shelter.

Printable SRP Parent Handout PDF Download (English)

Printable SRP Parent Handout PDF Download (Spanish)

SRP Actions

Hold

Secure

SECURE

“Get Inside. Lock outside doors”

Students are trained to:
●Return to inside of building
●Do business as usual
Adults and staff are trained to:
●Bring everyone indoors
●Lock the outside doors
●Increase situational awareness
●Account for students and adults
●Do business as usual

Parent FAQs

Secure is called when there is something dangerous outside of the building.

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

LOCKDOWN

“Locks, 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 FAQs

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.

Evacuate

EVACUATE

“To a Location”

Students are trained to:
●Leave stuff behind if required to
●If possible, bring their phone
●Follow instructions
Adults and staff are trained to:
●Bring roll sheet and Go Bag (unless instructed not to bring anything with them, dependent on reason for evacuation.)
●Lead students to Evacuation location
●Account for students and adults
●Report injuries or problems using Red Card/Green Card method.

Shelter

SHELTER

“State Hazard and Safety Strategy”

Hazards might include:
●Tornado
●Hazmat
●Earthquake
●Tsunami
Safety Strategies might include:
●Evacuate to shelter area
●Seal the room
●Drop, cover and hold
●Get to high ground
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

Reunification

Standard Reunification Method (SRM)

STUDENT/PARENT REUNIFICATION

Circumstances may occur at the school that require parents to pick up their students in a formalized, controlled release. The process of controlled release is called a reunification and may be necessary due to weather, a power outage, hazmat event, danger outside the school or if a crisis occurs at the school. The Standard Reunification Method is a protocol that makes this process more predictable and less chaotic for all involved.
Because a controlled release is not a typical end of school day event, a reunification may occur at a different location than the school a student attends. If this location is another school, then those students may be subject to a controlled release as well.

HOW IT WORKS
Students may be asked to be orderly and quiet while waiting. They may be asked to text a message to their parents or guardians, and not to message anyone else. Keeping the cellular network usage at a minimum may be important during a reunification.

PARENT/GUARDIAN EXPECTATIONS
If a parent or guardian is notified that a controlled release and reunification is needed, there are some expectations they should be aware of. First, bring identification. That will streamline things during reunification. Second, be patient. Reunification is a process that protects the safety of the student, and provides for an accountable change of custody from the school to a recognized custodial parent or guardian.

REUNIFICATION CARDS
For parents, there are a couple of steps. If a parent is driving to the school, greater awareness of traffic and emergency vehicles is advised. Parents should park where indicated and not abandon vehicles. Parents are asked to go to the Reunification “Check-In” area and form lines based on the first letter of their student’s last name. While in line, parents are asked to fill out a reunification card. This card is perforated and will be separated during the process. Some of the same information is repeated on both the top and bottom of the card. Parents are asked to complete all parts of the card.
In the case of multiple students being reunited, a separate card for each student needs to be completed.

NOTIFICATION
Parents may be notified in a number of ways. The school or district may use its broadcast phone or text message system. In some cases, students may be asked to send a text message to their parents. A reunification text message from a student may look something like this: “The school has closed, please pick me up at 3:25 at the main entrance. Bring your ID.“

BRING ID TO CHECK-IN
During check-in, identification and custody rights are confirmed. The card is separated and the bottom half is given back to the parent.
From the “Check-in” area, parents are directed to the “Reunification” area. There, a runner will take the bottom half of the card to the Student Assembly Area to recover the student or students.
Parents should be aware that, in some cases, they may be invited into the building for further information.

INTERVIEWS AND COUNSELING
In some cases, parents may be advised that a law enforcement investigation is underway and may be advised that interviews are necessary. In extreme cases, parents may be pulled aside for emergency or medical information.

Parent FAQs

WHAT IF A PARENT CAN’T PICK UP THEIR STUDENT?
When a parent can’t immediately go to the reunification site, students will only be released to individuals previously identified as a student’s emergency contact. Otherwise, the school will hold students until parents can pick up their student.

WHAT IF THE STUDENT DROVE TO SCHOOL?
There may be instances where a student is not allowed to remove a vehicle from the parking lot. In this case, parents are advised to recover the student. In some circumstances, high school students may be released on their own.

Printable SRM Parent Handout PDF Download (English)

Printable SRM Parent Handout PDF Download (Spanish)

SDOJ Standard Response Protocol Video

SDOJ Standard Reunification Method Video

Student Safety - A Top Priority

The following preventive measures and safety protocols are in place during school hours:

Each school has a secure entrance vestibule leading into the building.
Exterior doors are locked after students arrive each morning at all schools.
The buildings are equipped with security cameras to monitor entrances, hallways, and other areas, providing a visual record of activity and helping to identify potential threats.
Access for visitors and late-arriving students is permitted only through the main entrance, where school personnel must buzz/sign them in.
Visitors are run through a visitor management system before entering and must also wear identification.
School safety drills are conducted multiple times per year in addition to fire and tornado drills.

SUSO

The SPEAK UP, SPEAK OUT (SUSO) Resource Center is a comprehensive, one-stop place to turn with important school safety concerns.

Learn more about SUSO

Board Policies

School Board Policies and Guidelines can be found in full on NEOLA

8405 - ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY PROGRAM
8407 - SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER PROGRAM
8410 - CRISIS INTERVENTION
8420 - SCHOOL SAFETY
8462.01 - THREATS OF VIOLENCE

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In This Section

School Safety

Standard Response Protocol (SRP)

SRP Actions

Hold

HOLD

“In Your Classroom or Area”

Secure

SECURE

“Get Inside. Lock outside doors”

Parent FAQs

Lockdown

LOCKDOWN

“Locks, Lights, Out of Sight”

Parent FAQs

Evacuate

EVACUATE

“To a Location”

Shelter

SHELTER

“State Hazard and Safety Strategy”

Reunification

Standard Reunification Method (SRM)

STUDENT/PARENT REUNIFICATION

Parent FAQs

SDOJ Standard Response Protocol Video

SDOJ Standard Reunification Method Video

Student Safety - A Top Priority

SUSO

Board Policies

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