Be Safe! How to organize a safety drill in your school Jerad Wulf and Jason Heitz Wakefield Community Schools
District Demographics ● 540 students PK-12 ● Significant newcomer/SLIFE population ● 80 preschool students (3 and 4 year olds) ● Approximately 70 students eligible for SPED supports ● 53% free and reduced lunch ● Approximately 75 staff members (faculty and staff)
How it used to be…. ● All main doors (7) unlocked throughout the school day ● No fence surrounding the playground ● No camera system in place to monitor access or movement ● Limited knowledge/background in safety drills and procedures ● Outdated plans and procedures ● Community could access the Activity Center during the school day
Where we started... ● Locked all exterior doors ● Controlled access through 2 main doors (buzzer/doorbell system) ● Maintained safety while at recess-added a large fenced-in area ● Numbered all doors ● Implemented numerous safety procedures starting with “Lockdown Response”
“Lockdown (or Lockout) Response” ● Code used to limit movement on campus but the situation is not an immediate threat. ● Can be used for an injury or an accident in which outside agencies may need to get on campus (community member broke leg, student passed out, student leaving campus). ● Staff shut and lock their classroom door. Look in the hallway for additional students. If there are students/adults in the hallway bring them into your room. ● Take attendance using the pink sheets-list missing students and extra students ● Slide attendance form under the door ● Keep teaching. Stay in classrooms until the all clear code is given
● “Practiced” many different scenarios/reasons for a Lockdown/Lockout Response ● Solidified attendance/accountability ● Gained staff buy-in and understanding
“Lockdown NO RESPONSE” ● Code used to notify students and staff of an immediate threat on campus (active shooter). ● Staff and students immediately lock their classroom door. Turn off the lights and hide. DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR FOR ANY REASON. ● Hide until law enforcement evacuates your classroom. ● Staff members are not to let others in their classroom when the code is given. ● Individuals in the hallway should find a “safe” room and take cover. ● If you can get out of the building safely, go ahead and do so.
Staff Education ● Multiple staff meetings to discuss codes, give directions and answer questions from staff ○ What ifs … . ○ Scenarios ○ Clarifications ● Taught staff how to use the intercom and phone systems to make emergency announcements
Implementation-Faculty and Staff ● Practiced Lockdown No Response with just staff members...no students ● Staff had to locate an area to hide and practiced hiding for several minutes ● Staff were asked to make the Lockdown No Response announcement via classroom phones (NOT intercom)
Implementation-Students ● Classroom teachers talked to each of their students about the drill in an age appropriate manner ● Administration met with kids during lunch, in individual classrooms or at an assembly ● “What would you do?” scenarios
Drills we’ve completed at Wakefield DRILL #1 -Lockdown No Response and evacuate to the main gym *Police visited with students DRILL #2 -Lockdown No Response and controlled evacuation to ONE off site location (PK-12) *Did not take attendance; We determined end of drill and walked back to school *Had students role-play and tried to get in to classrooms *During staff meeting, we had police fire blanks at various spots in the building...Feedback from staff...
Drills we’ve completed at Wakefield DRILL #3 -Lockdown No Response and controlled evacuation to TWO off site locations (PK-6 and 7-12) *Shots fired *Called 9-1-1 from school phone and cell phone DRILL #4 -Lockdown No Response and controlled evacuation to off site location with targeted reunification *Shots fired *Asked a handful of parents to attempt reunification *Returned to school in time for lunch
Drills we’ve completed at Wakefield DRILL #5 -Lockdown No Response and controlled evacuation to off site location with grade level reunification *Shots fired *Asked one grade level (per building) to attempt reunification *Hid some students *Ate lunch off site *Walked back to school, dismissed students at 1:00, debriefed with staff
Staff must complete this document during a Lockout Response-Only. List all students/adults who are additional and those that are missing. When completed, slide under the door. We are able to account for all students in a very short amount of time by using this process.
When the Lockdown No Response code is given, staff and students immediately hide. They do not come out until Law Enforcement find them. Law Enforcement will locate students and staff in each room/area. They will make sure that each location is “clear.” The first person that is evacuated and sent to the reunification site will be the Person-in-Charge (PIC) at the site.
Once law enforcement evacuates a room, students will go to the off-site location by following the directives of law enforcement. No personal items will be allowed with staff or students unless they are “marked” and approved by law enforcement. All staff members must have their keys (school, home, car) and cell phones with them at all times. No one will be allowed back on campus if an incident happens...it is considered a crime scene.
Evacuation/Reunification Roles and Responsibilities: ● Person-in-Charge-first to the scene, takes charge of all off-site procedures, assigns job duties and ensures the evacuation site is secure. ● Greeter (yellow vests)-communicate with district patrons, parents and law enforcement as to what they should do during the reunification process. ● Checker (pink vests)-verify the identity and custody of the individual wanting to pick up student (only parents are allowed).
● Verification Accountant 1 (red vest)-direct parents to the reunifier. ● Reunifier (orange vest)-locate student and reunite with their verified parent. ● Reunification Accountant 2 (blue vest)-make sure reunited family leave the building and complete paperwork. ● Extra Roles: Security at each entrance, student accountability, staff accountability
Future Plans ● Injured or missing students/staff ● More shots fired? ● College students to act as injured ● Large scale reunification ● Fire and Rescue participation
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