Safety Resources
Our safety and security team works to create and maintain a safe and nurturing educational environment for all students, staff and visitors. We staff our own Security Team who deter criminal and disruptive conduct and effectively responds to requests for assistance. We also conduct and provide training for emergency preparedness.
We have a variety of safety resources such as highly trained and armed District Security Officers, Colorado Springs Police Department/El Paso County Sheriff's Department School Resource Officers, robust security camera systems and secure entrances with a strict check-in policy.
These resources, combined with additional safety protocols such as monthly fire drills, mock-emergency exercises, school emergency plans and adoption of the Standard Response Protocol system, help us ensure staff and students are well educated and trained on how to properly respond during times of crisis.
There are times when schools must be evacuated and placed in a lockout. During an evacuation/lockout our schools cannot accept any visitors, and students are bused to a reunification center. Families will be notified of the pick-up location. Please keep in mind, this process can be lengthy, however it ensures student safety.
Standard Response Protocol
Academy District 20 uses the Standard Response Protocol (SRP) principles of planning, preparing, and practicing to deal with a variety of emergency events that could affect our campuses and facilities. SRP is a nationally recognized program from the “i love u guys” Foundation. It is used extensively across the United States by school districts, colleges, universities, and businesses.
SRP is taught to staff and students and provides an action-based approach to achieving a safer school environment through easily learned safety concepts. It also teaches five basic directives regarding emergencies:
- Hold
- Secure
- Lockdown
- Evacuate
- Shelter
SRP posters show each directive and safety actions to be taken by students, staff, and visitors. SRP posters are displayed in each classroom, office, and common areas of our facilities in English and Spanish. We ask that anyone visiting our facilities be familiar with the SRP directives and follow the safety actions listed on the poster.
FAQs
Please don't. If there is a dangerous or unknown emergency you may place yourself in danger by showing up at the school, or even parking on a nearby street. Being in the area may block or hinder emergency vehicles traveling to and from the emergency location. School staff will assess the situation in conjunction with police, fire, or other first responders to give you information as quickly as possible. You will be given information on where to go to pick-up your child when it is safe to do so.
Make sure your contact information and notification preferences are up to date in Infinite Campus and in ParentSquare.
You may call either location, however, if a campus is involved in an emergency, phones may not be answered due for multiple reasons (danger, loss of phone lines due to weather, fire, jammed communications, etc.). Follow the emergency information directives given on our communications platforms (text, email, ParentSquare, websites, etc.)
Remember, potentially hundreds of other parents will also be trying to connect with their child’s campus. This may overwhelm communications. Be patient and expect delays in phones being answered. Our staff and first responders' primary responsibilities are dealing with the emergency directly.
If the campus is in a Lockdown due to an active threat inside the building, do not call your child. Calling anyone who may be hiding can give away their hiding place. You can consider texting your child, but keep in mind that if your child’s cell phone is loud or lights up, texting can potentially give away their hiding place. If your child calls or texts you, briefly remind them not to draw attention to themselves.
If you text, keep your message simple (e.g., “are you ok?”). Avoid long and complicated texts. Your child may not be able to respond because they are hiding. Do not ask your child what you should do or where you should go. That information could be wrong or change rapidly. Rely only official information from the school and/or police. Do not tell your child to come outside and find you! This may put them in danger.
Be patient. All students must be accounted for, assessed for injury, and potentially transported to a safe location first. This may include another school campus, an off-campus location (such as a church or business), or a medical facility. When we announce reunification location and procedures, please follow those directions.
We understand you may be scared, upset, or angry. Students will be released after each parent/guardian is identified. Have your identification ready; students will not be released to parents/guardians who do not have identification. You may be asked to fill out a form to pick-up your child which will all us to release students faster as computer systems may be down making student information inaccessible. It also allows us to have a record of who picked up your child. If your child is at a medical facility, you will be advised to go to that location.
In the event you are not able to come pick-up your child, we will attempt to contact all other listed emergency contacts. It may take additional time to contact the people on your emergency list. The school will hold your child until you or an approved adult can pick them up.
If your child has their own vehicle at school, they may be allowed to leave on their own after they have been accounted for. If the situation prevents your student from driving home (e.g., blocked parking lots, police cars/firetrucks/ambulances or other equipment, debris from weather emergencies, crime scenes, etc.), both the parent and the student will be notified that the student must be picked up. In some circumstances, you may be required to pick-up your child and come back to get their vehicle after the emergency has concluded.
Make sure your contact information an notification preferences are up-to-date in Infinite Campus and in ParentSquare. Find out more about how we communicate on our Alerts & Communication page.