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Standard Response Protocol

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.

COMMON LANGUAGE
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 - five specific actions 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.
 
If a school building has to perform any of these actions communication will be sent out to families. We ask that our parents/guardians become familiar with these actions. Here are some examples of when these actions might have to take place. Below are examples of when an action might be used. 
 
Hold – There is a spill in the hallway or a medical emergency. We want to keep the hallways clear so we hold students in class until they are given the “All Clear”.
Secure – There might be some police activity going on in the neighborhood. We are going to have all staff and students stay inside. No one is allowed out or in during this time. School will resume as normal inside.
Lockdown – There is an immediate threat to the building. Students and staff will lock the doors, turn off the lights, and remain out of sight.
Evacuate – There could be a gas leak or a fire and students and staff need to evacuate the building and head to their evacuation site.
Shelter – There could be a tornado. Students and staff are to shelter in place. 
 
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 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.
 
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.