Safety Initiatives

We are committed to regularly reviewing and enhancing our safety and preparedness measures. In the wake of increased violence and hate across our country, we know the impact this has on our schools. Our school and district based teams work closely with local first responders to ensure we have the best and most up-to-date safety practices and response procedures in place. Some of our efforts include:

• School-based crisis plans are updated annually. They are reviewed and shared with staff, district officials, and local first responders.
• Required safety drills are completed annually in each school. These include drills such as fire, shelter-in-place, bus evacuation, and lockdown or active shooter training..
• Regular meetings of school and district safety teams to review, practice, and update crisis response procedures.
• Secure entrances established in all District 65 schools with a dedicated concierge to help visitors navigate their visit and provided an additional layer of safety and oversight
• Annual ALICE training for all staff members to support active shooter response that empowers students and staff with an age- and ability-appropriate, trauma-informed approach to surviving in the face of violence and proven to help reduce anxiety.
• Established Threat Assessment procedures, which adhere to the Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guidelines, developed at the University of Virginia. This model has been extensively examined through field tests and controlled studies, and recognized as an evidence-based approach to preventing school violence by the National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices. The procedures also align with best practices developed by the U.S. Secret Service and the FBI.
• Mass notification system in place to send community communications in a matter of moments, including phone, text, and email simultaneously.

• Dedicated district-level safety staff to support school-based response. Beginning in the 2022-2023 school year, this team will be overseen by the Assistant Superintendent ofOperations and support from a Manager and Assistant of Prevention and Special Response
• Implementation of Hall Pass, a secure tracking system for district and school level visitors
• Family and Community Engagement Liaisons to provide student-based supports in collaboration with families and community partners and to help facilitate restorative measures in schools
• Implementation of Navigate 360 - Digitizes and provides interactive maps of the interior and exterior of all District facilities for use by first responders and district officials