Effective Practices. Staff and students who are outside the school buildings should never re-enter the school unless they are in close proximity to an identified threat location and have been directed to do so. Although notification of those who are outside the school building(s) is important, the use of an exterior PA system may not be the best option, as it may cause panic and/or bring unnecessary attention from members of the community. The use of a personal messenger to identify the off-site evacuation location(s) is recommended. Once at the location, staff and students shall remain at that location until further advised by the principal or police. Plans should include the taking of attendance at the off-site evacuation location(s).
Effective Practices. All staff (especially those working in the main office) should be trained that, when information is received in the office of a situation requiring a lockdown, whoever receives that information will immediately activate the school’s public address (PA) system, inside and outside, announcing the lockdown. There should be no hesitation in announcing the lockdown, and the decision to call the lockdown should be made immediately by whoever receives the call to the office, and should not be delayed for the purpose of checking with administration before announcing a lockdown. Boards should consider both auditory (PA) and visual notification systems inside and outside the school to announce a lockdown. For the safety of hearing-impaired individuals and in situations where noise levels in open areas such as cafeterias, and outside the school, may prevent staff and students from hearing a PA announcement, consideration should be given to the use of strobe lights or other visual indicators, in addition to the PA system. It is recommended that the actual wording announcing a lockdown be affixed on or near the microphone, so that it is clearly visible and can be read by the person announcing the lockdown.
Effective Practices. The Parties agree that punitive discipline practices are not in the best interest of students and not in keeping with the values of Mundo Verde. The Parties agree to utilize crisis prevention intervention, brain-based teaching strategies, and restorative justice techniques to address disruptive or unsafe behavior whenever possible. Mundo Verde commits to train staff on crisis prevention intervention and restorative justice practices at least once per year, and shall train newly hired staff during their onboarding period. Mundo Verde and the Union agree to collaborate on training as determined by the Instructional Leadership Team.
Effective Practices. As washrooms cannot be locked, and therefore should be identified during planning as a danger (red) area in the event of a lockdown, students need to evacuate washrooms if at all possible and get to an area that can safely be locked down (green). For elementary schools, it is recommended that plans designate adults who normally work in close proximity to student washrooms to check the washroom(s) prior to locking down themselves, if it safe to do so. After gathering students in the immediate vicinity of their classroom door into their classroom, they would quickly check both male and female washrooms to which they have been assigned in the planning phase, and take any students found in the washrooms into their classrooms to lock down. For secondary schools, it is recommended that training include an explanation to students that they are responsible for getting out of the washrooms immediately upon hearing a lockdown announced, and getting to the nearest classroom or other area that is identified as a safe (green) area. As a last resort, staff or students trapped in a washroom should attempt to somehow secure the bathroom door, enter a stall, lock the door, and climb on top of the toilet.
Effective Practices. When a suspicious package/device is located, appropriate procedures include the following: • isolation/containment of the device/package, ensuring that it is not touched; • immediate communication of the discovery to the principal and to police; and • immediate re-evaluation of any evacuation decisions in light of the discovery. Regardless of whether the package/device has been delivered to the school or located during a visual scan or under other circumstances, it is imperative that the object is not touched or moved and that it is immediately contained. This direction applies even if the package had already been moved prior to being deemed suspicious. The school principal should be notified immediately of the discovery of a suspicious package/device and of any action taken to that point. Police should be notified or updated when confirmation is received regarding the precise location of the package/device. Once the police have been notified, fire department and EMS personnel should be contacted so that they will be nearby or on the scene in stand-by mode. The school principal will work with emergency services personnel, which may include first responders, investigators, and bomb technicians, to evaluate the need to relocate evacuees and/or command posts. Legitimate property may have been left behind in an evacuated area, so attempts should be made to establish ownership of any suspicious device/package. This should be done by making inquiries, not by handling the package/device.
Effective Practices. In situations where more than one building exists on school grounds, each building should be clearly identified on all sides of the building with a building identifier, such as a number. All portables shall be clearly identified as well. All exterior doors shall be clearly identified, such as doors A, B, C, etc. All rooms within the building should be clearly marked with room numbers.
Effective Practices. Please describe how each of the seven basic elements are addressed by your proposed program design. How will you monitor the program during implementation to assess continued alignment with the MOST Effective Practices? Are there any other program quality standards, tools or measurements that you use with this program? If yes, please list and describe.
Effective Practices. The person receiving a bomb threat by telephone should try to keep the caller on the line as long as possible and should record precise details of the call, especially the exact wording of the threat. However, the person should end the call if staying on the line puts them in harm’s way or prevents them from initiating response procedures.
Effective Practices. Plans to conclude a lockdown will vary by location. Procedures may include a general announcement via the PA system by the principal, or a room-to-room visit from police/school administration, with some sort of an identification process, so that the occupants of a locked room know that whoever is giving them the all- clear is in fact authentic. Local plans should include procedures for ending lockdowns at off-site evacuation locations. In all cases where police have responded, plans should clearly indicate that the decision to end a lockdown shall be made only after approval of the on-scene police incident commander.
Effective Practices. Orientation for new teachers should include mandatory lockdown training. Schools should establish a method to conduct lockdown review training for all staff during each school year. Schools should consider assemblies to train secondary students on lockdown procedures. Due to the young age of some elementary students, it is suggested that classroom teachers be responsible for training students at the elementary level. Any training provided to students with special education needs should be consistent with the expectations outlined in their Individual Education Plans. Where possible, it is advantageous to have police partners present during training, and to assist with the training of staff and students. Information for parents may be presented in newsletters, school or board websites, or an evening session on lockdown plans. Fire and EMS personnel should be invited to training sessions.