INFORMATION FOR PARENTS AND GUARDIANS
Our district has adopted The “I Love U Guys” Foundation’s Standard Response Protocol (SRP). Students and staff will be training, practicing, and drilling the protocol.
COMMON LANGUAGE
The Standard Response Protocol (SRP) is based on an all-hazards approach as opposed to individual scenarios. Like the Incident Command System (ICS), 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.
View the tabs for each action below to learn when an action is used and what students and staff are trained to do.
A HOLD action is used when hallways or common areas need to remain clear. Students and staff stay in their current rooms or areas until normal movement can resume. In most cases, families will not be notified of a HOLD unless the situation directly impacts students or there is information families should be aware of or discuss at home.
Students are trained to:
- Clear the hallways and remain in their area or room until the “All Clear” 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
A SECURE action is used when there is a potential threat or hazard outside the school building. Students and staff remain inside while exterior access to the school is restricted.
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
A LOCKDOWN action is used when there is a potential threat or hazard inside the school building. Students and staff follow established safety procedures while emergency responders and school personnel address the situation.
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 evacuate or counter
An EVACUATE action is used when students and staff need to move from one location to another for safety. They follow established evacuation procedures and move to the location identified by school personnel.
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.
A SHELTER action is used when specific protective actions are needed because of a hazard, such as severe weather or a hazardous materials situation. Students and staff follow the appropriate safety procedures for the identified hazard.
Hazards might include:
- Tornado
- Hazmat
- Earthquake
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 or problems using Red Card/Green Card method.
SECURE & LOCKDOWN Guidance for Parents & Guardians
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 school might display the Building is Secured poster on entry doors or nearby windows. Inside, it will be business as usual.
SHOULD PARENTS/GUARDIANS 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 & guardians may be asked to stay outside during a Secure event.
WHAT IF PARENTS/GUARDIANS 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/GUARDIANS 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 & guardians while the Secure is in place.
With longer or more dangerous events, the district or school will notify parents & guardians that the school has increased their security.
A Lockdown is called when there is something dangerous inside 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?
No. 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. Our schools also enforce a bell to bell policy that requires all phones to be stored and off.
In some cases, students may be evacuated and transported off-site for a student-parent reunification.
