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Safety & Security

Standard Response Protocol

Our school has adopted The “I Love U Guys” Foundation’s Standard Response Protocol (SRP). Students and staff train and practice the protocol throughout the year.

 

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Common Language

The Standard Response Protocol (SRP) is designed to work for all hazards 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 announced and followed by a directive. 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.

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Standard Response Protocol Actions

We use the following Standard Response Protocol actions to respond to a variety of situations:

HOLD 

A hold is called for situations when school staff need to keep the hallways clear.

A white stylized door icon with a diagonal slash through it is centered on a purple circular background.

“In Your Classroom or Area”

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

 

SECURE

Secure is called when there is something dangerous outside of the building.

Two white hand silhouettes are centered against a solid blue circular background.

"Get inside. Lock outside doors"


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

 

LOCKDOWN

A Lockdown is called when there is a threat of something dangerous inside of the building, or an active danger inside of the building.

A white padlock icon is centered within a solid red circle.

"Locks, Lights, Out of Sight"

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 evade or defend

 

EVACUATE

Evacuate is called when there is a need for all students and staff to leave the building.

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"To a location"

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

 

SHELTER

Shelter is called for a weather event where students and staff should take appropriate shelter.

A white stick figure stands beneath a white chevron shape against a solid orange circular background.

"State Hazard and Safety Strategy"

Hazards might include:

  • Tornado
  • Earthquake
  • Tsunami

Safety Strategies might include:

  • Evacuate to shelter area
  • Drop, cover and hold
  • Get to high ground

Students are trained in:

  • Appropriate Hazards and Safety Strategies

Adult and Staff are trained in:

  • Appropriate Hazards and Safety Strategies
  • Accounting for students and adults

 

Standard Response Protocol - Parent Guidance

In the event of a live incident, parents may have questions about their role.

SECURE

“Get Inside. Lock outside doors”

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 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 may be asked to stay outside during a Secure event.

What if parents 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 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 while the Secure is in place. With longer or more dangerous events, the school should notify parents that the school has increased their security.

 

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LOCKDOWN

“Locks, lights, out of sight”

A Lockdown is called when there is a threat of something dangerous inside of the building, or an active danger inside of the building. Students and staff are trained to enter or remain in a room that can be locked, and maintain silence.

Should parents come to the school during a lockdown?

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. As the situation resolves, students may be asked to update their parents on a regular basis. In some cases, students may be evacuated and transported off-site for a student-parent reunification.

What about unannounced drills?

The school may conduct unscheduled drills, however it is highly discouraged to conduct one without announcing that it as a drill. That’s called an unannounced drill and can cause undue concern and stress. Parents should recognize that the school will always inform students that it is a drill during the initial announcement. It’s important to differentiate between a drill and an exercise. A drill is used to create the “Muscle Memory” associated with a practiced action. There is no simulation of an event; this is simply performing the action. An exercise simulates an actual event to test the capacity of personnel and equipment.

Can parents observe or participate in the drills?

The school welcomes parents who wish to observe or participate in drills.