Emergency Preparedness
The Warren County School District and all school facilities have emergency operation plans. The plans are designed with the assistance of administrative staff members, as well as law enforcement, emergency management, and public health officials. The plans, which are regularly reviewed and updated, include procedures to respond to a variety of crisis incidents. School district personnel and students practice drills associated with specific emergencies on a regular basis.
The School District administrators consult with local, state, and federal health, safety, and emergency personnel to develop and maintain plans for coping with a variety of emergency situations. The District's Safety and Security Committee is made up of school administrators and staff, and representatives of local and county first responders. The team meets during the year to discuss crisis response, management, prevention, and communication. Call 9-1-1 to report suspicious incidents or behavior or the Safe2Say app.
School Safety Procedures
Safety begins with prevention and having a plan in place. State law requires schools to conduct several drills a year, including practice for shelter-in-place, lockdown, secure and evacuation. District administration trains on a regular basis with local law enforcement, fire departments, and other emergency response agencies. Each school in the District has a safety and security plan. These plans are designed with the expertise of administrative staff members, local law enforcement, emergency management, and public health officials.
The plans include procedures to respond to a variety of situations. In general, each plan involves the designation of a crisis management team, development of evacuation, shelter-in-place, lockdown, secure, hold procedures, the preparation of a portable critical response kit (Stop the Bleed Kits) that contains key information and supplies, designation of one or more appropriate evacuation sites, provisions for training personnel and updating the plan, checklists for dealing with specific types of incidents and resources for help before, during and after an event.
The District follows the Standard Response Protocol developed by the “I Love U Guys” Foundation.
The Warren County School District places great value on the safety and security of our students and staff above all else. In October of 2015 our emergency practices and procedures were updated to include the Standard Response Protocol (SRP). District staff and administrators are all being trained in the SRP, as will students.
The Standard Response Protocol (SRP) is based not on individual scenarios but on the response to any given scenario. The premise is simple - there are specific actions that can be performed during an incident:
Hold is followed by the directive: " In your room or area" and is the protocol used when hallways need to be kept clear of occupants.
Secure is followed by the directive: "Secure the Perimeter," and is the protocol used to safeguard students and staff within the building.
Lockdown is followed by "Locks, Lights, Out of Sight" and is the protocol used to secure individual rooms and keep students quiet and in place.
Evacuate is always followed by a location, and is used to move students and staff from one location to a different location which can be in or out of the building.
Shelter is always followed by a type and a method, and is the protocol for a group and self protection.
Utilization of the Standard Response Protocol puts all staff, students, and first responders on the same page. By standardizing the announcements, responses, actions, and recovery, the district hopes to provide the safest most successful incident outcome.
About Standard Response Protocol
The Standard Response Protocol was developed by the "I Love U Guys" Foundation, headed by John-Michael Keyes and his wife Ellen-Stoddard Keyes as a result of the tragic and unfortunate death of their daughter Emily Keyes on September 27th, 2006 at Platte Canyon High School. On this day, a gunman entered the high school, held seven girls hostage and ultimately shot and killed Emily Keyes. During the time she was held Hostage, she sent her parents text messages..."I Love You Guys" and "I Love U Guys, K?" The "I Love U Guys" Foundation was created to restore and protect the joy of youth through educational programs and positive actions in collaboration with families, schools, communities, organizations and government agencies.
If you would like to know more about the Standard Response Protocol (SRP) or the "I Love U Guys" Found please visit: www.iloveuguys.org or check the files below.