Student and School Safety

Safety Procedures

Student Safety Tipline: communications@coupeville.k12.wa.us

Coupeville Schools are a Tobacco, Drug and Gun-Free Zone

Our district has adopted The “I Love U Guys” Foundation’s Standard Response Protocol (SRP). Students and staff will be training, practicing, and drilling the protocol. The Standard Response Protocol (SRP) is based on an all-hazards approach 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 labeled with a “Term of Art” and is then followed by a “Directive.” Execution of 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.

The Standard Response Protocol (SRP) for Students

HOLD "In Your Classroom or Area"

SECURE "Get Inside. Lock Outside Doors"

LOCKDOWN "Locks, Lights, Out of Sight"

EVACUATE "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
Report injuries or problems using Red Card/Green Card method.

SHELTER "State Hazard and Safety Strategy"

Hazards might include:

Tornado
Hazmat
Earthquake
Tsunami

Safety Strategies might include:

Evacuate to shelter area
Seal the room
Drop, cover and hold
Get to high ground

Students are trained in:

Follow Appropriate Hazards and Safety Strategies

Adults and staff are trained in:

Appropriate Hazards and Safety Strategies
Accounting for students and adults
Report injuries or problems using Red Card/Green Card method.

Parent Guidance

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

LOCKDOWN “Locks, Lights, Out of Sight” – A Lockdown is called when there is something dangerous inside of the building. Students and staff are trained to enter or remain in a room that can be locked, and maintain silence. A Lockdown is only initiated when there is an active threat inside or very close to the building.

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.

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