Emergency Management

Creating safe, welcoming schools

Our district takes school safety very seriously. We spend considerable time and energy each year working with local law enforcement to review school emergency plans, train staff, practice safety drills with students, and increase security in our buildings. We also work with Washington County Public Health and Safety and the Sheriff's Office to conduct safety audits of our facilities, train our staff, and address mental health concerns in our community.

In an emergency, do not come to school or call school. We will share information with families as soon as we can safely do so.

Did you SEE something concerning at school or online? SAY something.

REPORT A CONCERN

Standard Response Protocol

Standard Response Protocols

Our district follows the Standard Response Protocol which is based on five actions staff and students will take in an emergency situation. We train our staff and students on these procedures and practice drills throughout the school year.

Hold

A hold (previously called a modified lockdown) might be used if there is a medical emergency in the building or when we need to limit traffic in the hallways.

Students will remain in their classrooms with doors locked, but class will continue as normal.

Secure

The secure command is called if there is something potentially dangerous outside of the school or in a neighborhood close by.

Students and staff will stay inside the building and doors will be locked, but inside the school it will be business as usual.

Lockdown

A lockdown is only initiated when there is an active threat inside or very close to our school.

Students and staff will remain locked in their classroom, out of sight, and maintain silence.

Evacuate

We may need to evacuate if there is a fire or other hazardous situation that makes it unsafe to be in school.

Students and staff will walk to - or be transported by bus - to a safe location and reunified with their families.

Shelter

We may need to shelter if there is severe weather in our area.

Students and staff will shelter in designated spaces within our building to maximize safety.

Standard Response Protocol Overview

Reunification

Circumstances may occur at a school that require parents/guardians to pick up their students in a formalized, controlled release. This process is called a Reunification and may be necessary due to severe weather, a power outage, hazmat 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 reunification 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.

Notification

Families will be notified of a Reunification situation via automated phone message and email from the district. If a family has opted to receive text messages, a text may also be sent. Information will also be posted on our district and school websites.

Standard Reunification-Parent-Handout.pdf

Reunification Expectations

When picking up your child at a reunification site:

Bring a valid, state-issued ID.
Students will only be released to individuals previously identified as their emergency contact. [Update emergency contacts in PowerSchool].
Be patient. Reunification is a process that protects student safety and provides for an accountable change of custody from the school to a recognized custodial parent or guardian. It will take some time.

Instructions for Families During a Reunification Process

We ask for your patience and understanding as we work to safely reunite you with your children. Please understand that this process may take several hours to complete.

Here’s what you can expect during the process:

As You Arrive:

Have your photo ID ready
Take one Reunification Form for each of your children
Be seated in the designated parent/guardian area
Read and fill out both sides of the Reunification Card
Follow those in front of you in an organized fashion

As You Wait To Check-In:

Have your photo ID ready
Line up single file
Wait for the Greeter to admit you to the Check-In Area

As You Enter The Reunification Line:

Stand in the parent/guardian line
Wait for your child(ren) to appear
Walk with your child(ren) to the Check-Out Table
Hand your slip(s) to a Reunifier
Exit at the door indicated

If you have questions throughout the Reunification process, please find one of the staff/volunteers wearing a vest.

Thank you for your patience.

Instructions for Students During a Reunification Process

We ask for your patience and understanding as we work to safely reunite you with your family. Please understand that this process may take several hours to complete.

As you arrive at the Reunification Site:

Wait patiently while a staff/volunteer reviews the bus attendance sheet to confirm they have all of the information they need
When you receive word that it is time to exit the bus, follow the adults to the secured facility

As you wait to be reunified:

Be patient and remain calm
Carefully follow the instructions provided by staff and other helpers
Write your full name (first, middle and last) and birth date on the card provided
Watch the screen for your name and/or listen for your name to be called
When you see or hear your name, turn in your card to staff at the table by the exit
Follow the instructions to exit and be reunified with your parent/guardian

Please check with an adult if you need anything, including:

To use the bathroom
Have a medical need or emergency
Food or water

If you have questions throughout the Reunification process, please find one of the staff/volunteers wearing a vest.

Thank you for your patience.

Building Security

All of our school buildings have controlled access entrances.
Exterior doors to the building are locked and visitors must enter through the main office before being buzzed into the rest of the building.
Video intercom systems are also in use at many of our schools, which allow school staff to see who is requesting entry into the school before they buzz them into the building.
Once access into the office is granted, all visitors are asked to show a photo ID which is run through a visitor management system to identify individuals who may pose a danger to our students.
A School Resource Officer (an armed police officer from our local police departments) is also in each of our middle schools and high school every day.

Planning

As part of its emergency planning the district has conducted extensive evaluations of all four areas of school crisis planning, as recommended by the United States Department of Education, including:

Prevention and mitigation
Preparedness
Response
Recovery

Addressing these four areas reduces risk and improves school climate - enhancing the ability of students to learn. Our work includes a variety of efforts, like:

Internal evaluations of safety, security and emergency preparedness
Enhanced collaboration between the school district and area public safety agencies
Training for district employees
Updated and expanded school crisis plans
Enhanced approaches to school emergency drills and exercises
Production of a series of custom school safety training videos for use in training of students and staff

Safety Drills

Every year our students and staff take part safety drills and we document our findings (what went well and what we might improve upon.) Each school also has a Building Emergency Response Team that meets throughout the year to review safety practices and coordinate building plans.

Five evacuation drills
Five safety drills (hold, lockdown, secure)
One shelter drill
Bus riders also hold one bus evacuation drill

School delays, closure, early release

School Delays, Closure, Early Release

Throughout a school year, there may be times when changes must be made to the regular schedule to keep students safe. These adjustments could include a delay, closure, or early release.

School could be canceled or schedules altered if:

A building is deemed unsafe (ex. gas leak)
Buses won’t start or run dependably
Local road conditions in neighborhoods are dangerous or impassable
Bus riders face dangerous conditions while waiting for the bus

Parents and guardians always have the choice to keep their children home if they feel conditions are unsafe. Be sure to contact the school to notify them of the child's absence should that happen.

Notification

Should a decision be made that impacts the school day, families receive an automated phone message, email, and text (if opted in) from the district as early as possible. Information is posted on district and school websites and on the district’s social media feed.

Announcements can also be found on any of the local television stations, including WCCO Channel 4, KSTP Channel 5, FOX Channel 9, and KARE 11.

Snow Days & E-Learning Days

Each year, the district has one official “Snow Day” in which there is no school in-person or online. After that, any weather-related cancellation results in an E-Learning Day.

Planning for an Emergency

Discuss with students what to do in the event that school is dismissed early and no one is home when they arrive.

Supporting Our Kids

MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT

SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL LEARNING

LOCAL MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE PROVIDERS