Schools practice safety procedures throughout the school year, including fire, secure, and lockdown drills, and are trained annually in responding to emergencies.

The Standard Response Protocol (SRP)

        

Northeast Metro 916 utilizes the Standard Response Protocol (SRP) developed by the I Love U Guys Foundation in collaboration with local law enforcement. The SRP is based not on individual scenarios but on the response to any given situation.

The premise is simple - five actions can be performed during an emergency:

 

HOLD:

Some situations require students and staff to remain in their classrooms or stay out of access areas. There may be a need for students who are not in a classroom to proceed to an area where they can be supervised and remain safe.

Examples include an altercation in a hallway, a medical issue needing attention, or an unfinished maintenance operation in a common area during class changes.

 

SECURE:

The building is put in SECURE based on activity in the surrounding area, not in the school or on school grounds. All students and activities are moved inside, and the exterior doors to the building are locked while learning continues with minimal interruption or distractions. Without emergency personnel or district approval, no one can leave or enter the building. The school day operates “business as usual” within the building unless the SECURE interferes with release times.

Examples include an unknown or unauthorized person on the grounds; a dangerous animal on or near the grounds; criminal activity in the area; or planned police activity in the neighborhood.

 

LOCKDOWN:

The building is put on lockdown due to perceived danger inside or near the building. All students and staff are trained to get behind a locked door - Locks, Lights, Out of Sight. The expectation is that classroom doors are locked and secured, lights are turned off, and students and staff move to a location away from hallway windows and doors and remain quiet. Students and staff are released by district or emergency personnel only.

Examples include a dangerous animal within a school building; an intruder; an angry or violent individual; a report of a weapon; or an active assailant.

 

EVACUATE:

Students and staff are moved to a new or safe location due to a situation in or near the school building.

Examples include gas leaks in school; unsafe situations near school affecting release times.

 

 

SHELTER:

SHELTER: Students and staff are instructed to take safe shelter due to a situation in or near the school.

Examples include severe weather or other natural events.

 

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Safety and Emergency Drills

Preparation is the key to effective response in case of an emergency. Drills help our staff and students respond quickly, calmly, and safely to many situations.

Drills at Northeast Metro 916:

• Fire drills are conducted five times per year
• LockDOWN drills, designed to familiarize students with how to respond to potentially dangerous situations, are conducted five times per year
• Weather-related tornado drills are conducted once a year

Each of these drills aims to teach confidence and allow students and staff to be "emergency prepared, not emergency scared." Conducting drills allows us to evaluate the effectiveness of our evacuation procedures and determine any necessary changes or adjustments to current practices that may be needed to improve performance.

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REUNIFICATION:

As a result of any of the above five scenarios, students may need to be reunified with parents through a controlled release at the school or a reunification at a new location.

We want to reunite students with their parents/guardians as soon as possible during an emergency situation. We will work with our local law enforcement and fire agencies to determine when it is safe to reunite students and parents/guardians. These situations often take time and planning to ensure everyone is reunited safely.