Emergency Response Plan
Standard Response Protocol
We use the Standard Response Protocol (SRP) when responding to situations at school, including emergencies. The SRP gives everyone, including students, staff, and first responders, a shared set of words and actions so we all know what is happening and how to respond.
It’s important that we all know these terms so we understand what they mean if they are used at school.
The SRP was developed by The “I Love U Guys” Foundation and is also being used by many neighboring school districts. All of us using the same terms and responses helps us better support students, families, first responders, and our community in an emergency.
How the SRP Works
The SRP is simple: there are five actions schools may use to respond to a situation.
When an action is used, it will come with a short directive that tells everyone what to do. These directions are shared with the students, staff, and first responders so everyone knows the next step. Remember: Please do not come to the school unless you are told to do so. Following these directions helps keep your child, other students, and staff safe.
HOLD
Hold is followed by the directive: “In Your Room or Area” and is used when the hallways in the school need to remain clear. In most cases, classroom learning still takes place, but students may not be able to change classes or move to another activity until after the hold has been lifted.
Possible scenarios:
- Maintenance issue
- Health emergency
- Someone is escalated
SECURE
Secure is followed by the directive: “Get Inside. Lock Outside Doors” and is used when there is a threat or hazard outside of the school building. Secure uses the security of the physical facility to act as protection. During a secure, all students and staff are brought into the secure building and all exterior doors are locked. Classes are able to continue uninterrupted inside the building.
Possible scenarios:
- Police activity in the area
- A stranger is on school grounds and staff need to make sure that it is safe for them to be there
- Wildlife on the campus that may be dangerous
LOCKDOWN
Lockdown is followed by “Locks, Lights, Out of Sight” and is called when there is a threat or hazard inside the school building. During a lockdown, classroom doors, offices, and other securable areas are locked; occupants move out of sight of windows; lights are turned off; and occupants maintain silence.
Possible scenarios:
- Threat inside a school building (e.g., intruder or weapon)
EVACUATE
During an evacuation, students and staff are asked to move from one location to another in an orderly fashion. The second location may be off campus.
Possible scenarios:
- Suspected gas leak
- Flooding
- Fire
SHELTER
A shelter is called when specific protective actions are needed based on a threat or hazard. Sheltering requires that all students and staff follow response directives based on the threat or hazard.
Possible scenarios:
- Earthquake
- Tornado
- Chemical spill
How We Communicate in Emergencies
In today’s world, the first news about a school emergency often comes from unofficial sources—like a student texting a parent, who then posts on social media. These messages can spread quickly, even before the district has sent an official update.
So why does it sometimes take longer for the school district to send a message? Here’s what happens behind the scenes:
Gathering Facts
When an emergency occurs, our first priority is to share accurate information. Each situation is different, and we often need to confirm details with schools, first responders, or families. This fact-checking step takes time, but it helps us give you the most reliable information possible.
What We Can Share
There are times when we are limited in the details we can provide. This may be due to privacy laws or an active police investigation. When you see phrases like “We are unable to share specifics,” please know we aren’t being vague on purpose—we are balancing transparency with protecting others’ privacy.
Sending the Message
Once information is confirmed, we quickly send updates through ParentSquare, our website, and social media. These are the best places to find accurate, up-to-date information.
What You Can Do
- Follow instructions in our messages. This might include a change to dismissal times or a new pick-up location.
- Please do not come to the school unless you are told to do so. Following these directions helps keep your child, other students, and staff safe.
- Keep phone lines open. Please avoid calling schools during an emergency—we will share updates through ParentSquare, our website, and possibly on social media.
- Help stop rumors. Share the district’s official messages with friends and neighbors who may not receive them directly.
Keep Your Contact Info Updated
The phone number and email listed in Skyward/Family Access are what we use to reach you in an emergency. Please make sure your information is always current.
Thank you for helping us keep communication clear, accurate, and timely during emergencies.