Lockdown / Evacuation

WHAT IS A LOCKDOWN?


The decision to lockdown a school rests with the building administrator or their designee. A lockdown consists of getting all staff and students into a secured room/area and locking all interior and exterior doors and windows. 

LOCKDOWN PROCEDURES

  • Remain calm and stay with your students.
  • Cancel all outside activities and direct all students and staff to get into the school.
  • Commence the lockdown immediately by closing and locking all interior and exterior doors.
  • Close all windows and keep all blinds and curtains open.
  • Keep students quiet and away from doors and windows.
  • Maintain a calm environment through calm leadership. Reassure students that everything possible is being done to return the situation to normal.
  • If a gunshot or an explosion is heard, get everyone on the floor.
  • Contact the building administrator's office immediately if you have an emergency in your room.
  • Do not allow students to be unattended at any time.
  • Conduct frequent roll call of all students and immediately report any missing student to the building adminstrator's office. 
  • Lockdown is to remain in effect until cancelled by the building administrator and an "All Clear" is announced.

INTRUDER IN THE SCHOOL

  • If an intruder/unauthorized person enters the school notify the building administrator's office immediately. The principal's office will call 911 if needed.
  • If possible, ask the unauthorized person to report to the main office. If the unauthorized person refuses to report to the office the teacher should contact the building administrator's office, advise of the situation and give a description of the unauthorized person.
  • Prepare to lockdown or start to lockdown your area.
  • Listen for instructions from the building administrator.
  • Call the building administrator's office if you have any missing or injured students.
  • Do not unlock your doors until you hear the "All Clear" announced.

HOSTAGE SITUATION PROCEDURES

  • Call 911 and the building administrator's office immediately.
  • Move everyone away from the hostage situation as rapidly and quietly as possible.
  • Listen for instruction to evacuate the area or activate lockdown procedures.
  • Account for all students and advise the building administrator of any missing students.
  • Gather all the fact regarding the situation for the police. Gather detailed descriptions of the suspects and victims, including clothing, location and weapons. Keep notes on times, any communication from the person holding the hostages and other witness information.

EVACUATION - CLASSROOM/BUILDING

  • Evacuation of a classroom or area may be ordered by the teacher, supervising adult,  building administrator, or local public safety agencies. The purpose is to move students away from potentially threatening situations that do not require full building evacuation.
  • Evacuation of a building is used to move students and staff out of the building by a pre-designated route (if usable) to avoid a potentially threatening situation that involves the entire building.
  • Evacuation of the building may be ordered by the building adminstrator, their designee or local public safety agencies.

EVACUATION PROCEDURES

  • Remain calm and stay with your students.
  • Tell students to go immediately, in a calm and orderly manner, to the designated evacuation assembly area.
  • Remember to take your class roster with you.
  • Consider special-needs occupants that may need assistance evacuating.
  • When leaving a room, feel the door with the back of your hand before opening it and do not open any door that feels hot.
  • If smoke is present, stay low. The best quality of air is near the floor.
  • If your primary route is blocked or unusable, use your secondary exit route.
  • Do not take personal items with you.
  • Close doors behind you while exiting.
  • Walk, do not run.
  • Do not go into the restrooms.
  • Do not use the elevators.
  • Once you have reached the designated area, account for all students and immediately report any missing students to the building administrator.
  • Stay with students, keeping them in a group.
  • Remain at the designated evacuation assembly area until directed by the building administrator and an "All Clear" has been announced.