Emergency/School Closures

There may be situations that require students to remain in their classrooms. There may be a need for students who are not in a classroom to proceed to an area where they can be supervised and remain safe.

EXAMPLES OF SECURE CONDITIONS:

• Unknown or unauthorized on the grounds
• Dangerous animal on school grounds
• Criminal activity in area
• Planned police activity in the neighborhood

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Students:

• Return to inside of building
• Do business as usual

Adults:

• Bring everyone indoors
• Lock outside doors
• Increase situational awareness
• Account for all students and adults
• Do business as usual

 

Lockdown is called when there is a threat or hazard inside the school building. Lockdown uses classroom and school security actions to protect student and staff from the threat.

EXAMPLES OF LOCKDOWN CONDITIONS:

• Dangerous animal within school building
• Intruder
• Angry or violent parent or student
• Report of a weapon
• Active assailant

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Students:

• Move away from sight
• Maintain silence
• Do not open the door

Adults:

• Recover students from hallway, if possible
• Lock classroom door
• Turn out the lights
• Move away from sight
• Maintain silence
• Do not open the door
• Prepare to evade or defend

 

EVACUATE TO A LOCATION:

Evacuate is called when there is a need to move people from one location to another. Most often, evacuations will be necessary when there’s a heating/ventilation system failure, nearby gas leak, or bomb threat. In those cases, people will be allowed to bring their personal items with them. An evacuation drill is very similar to a fire drill.

POLICE LED – EVACUATION AFTER A LOCKDOWN:

In rare situations where law enforcement is clearing classrooms and escorting students and staff out of the classroom and through the building. As officers enter the classroom, students and staff must keep their hands visible and empty. It is unlikely that students or staff may be able to bring backpacks, purses or any personal items during a Police Led Evacuation. Students may be instructed to form a single file line and hold hands from and back, or students and staff may be asked to put their hands on their heads while evacuating.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Students:

• Leave stuff behind
• If possible, bring your phone
• Follow instructions

Adults:

• Lead students to Evacuation location
• Account for students and adults
• Notify if missing, extra or injured students or adults

 

Shelter is called when specific protective actions are needed based on a threat or hazard.

Hazards may include: Tornado, Severe weather, Wildfires, Flooding, Hazmat spill or release, Earthquake, Tsunami

Safety Strategy: Evacuate to shelter area, Seal the room, Drop, cover and Hold, Get to high ground

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Students:

• Use appropriate safety strategy for the hazard

Adults:

• Lead safety strategy
• Account for students and adults
• Notify if missing, extra or injured students or adults

Circumstances may occur at the school that require parents pick up their students in a formalized, controlled release from the school. It may be necessary due to weather, a power or other utility outage, hazmat or if a crisis occurs at the school. This is the name for the process that will occur on-site at the school and parents will be notified with instructions on how to execute this process quickly and smoothly.

Reunification is when students are reunited with parents after an incident or evacuation, and is a process that ensures all students are returned safely to parents. This process will occur at a pre-designated alternate site. Parents will be notified at the time of the incident of these locations and provided instructions on how to work through this process quickly and efficiently.