Being prepared for a variety of emergencies is a critical part of the district’s safety and security plans. To be prepared, schools in the district complete the monthly state mandated drills and additional security “practices”. The monthly emergency drills and additional security practices fall into four categories 1) Lockdown – a response to a definite threat of violence or harm, 2) Secure and teach – a response to a potential threat of violence or harm, 3) Shelter in place – preparing students and employees for earthquakes, hazardous chemical spills and weather events, and 4) Evacuation – preparations for a fire, natural gas leak or other internal threat.
In addition to the four categories of safety the district conducts “table top” security training exercises, practices offsite student-parent reunification, conducts emergency radio communications practice, conducts security training for new administrators and provides substitute teachers with important security information.
The district also provides every school principal with a security preparedness checklist to help them get ready for each upcoming school year. Schools are also given a special education security checklist and planning tool for any student who may need additional support during any emergency.
To help support district-wide safety and security preparations we contract with a school security expert who helps develop training materials, conducts table top and other training exercises, consults on physical security upgrades and supports other emergency preparation efforts. Additionally, every school has a safety/security committee to help promote healthy learning environments.