Safety and Security

• All of our school buildings have controlled access entrances.

• Exterior doors to the building are locked and visitors must enter through the main office before accessing the rest of the building.

• Video intercom systems are also in use at many of our schools, which allow school staff to see who is requesting entry into the school before staff buzz them into the building.

• Once access into the office is granted, all visitors are asked to show a photo ID which is run through a visitor management system, called Raptor, to identify individuals who may pose a danger to our students.

• A School Resource Officer (an armed police officer from our local police departments) is also in each of our middle schools and high school every day.

• Prevention and mitigation
• Preparedness
• Response
• Recovery

• Internal evaluations of safety, security and emergency preparedness
• Enhanced collaboration between the school district and area public safety agencies
• Training for district employees
• Updated and expanded school crisis plans
• Enhanced approaches to school emergency drills and exercises

Raptor provides a layer of security regarding who has access to our buildings. Raptor also enables us to scan visitors against the national sex offender registry, as well as our flags within our student information system, Infinite Campus. 

As the district furthers its partnership with the I Love U Guys Foundation, Raptor will allow us to seamlessly work within that partnership.

Some additional resources:

• Initial Family Communication
• Raptor Visitor Management Intro Video and How it Works Video. *Note: all videos can be translated using Youtube’s Closed Caption feature.

• 5 evacuation drills
• 5 safety drills (hold, lockdown, secure)
• 1 shelter drill
• Bus riders also hold one bus evacuation drill

• A building is deemed unsafe (ex. Gas leak)
• Buses won’t start or run dependably.
• Local road conditions in our neighborhoods are dangerous or impassable.
• Bus riders face dangerous conditions while waiting for the bus.

NOTIFICATION

Should a decision be made that will impact the school day, you will receive an automated phone message and email from the district as early as possible. Information will also be posted on our district and school websites.

You can also listen and watch for an announcement on any of the local television stations (WCCO Channel 4, KSTP Channel 5, FOX Channel 9, and KARE 11). 

PLANNING FOR AN EMERGENCY

Please discuss with your child what to do in the event that school is dismissed early and no one is home when he/she arrives.

Circumstances may occur at a school that require parents/guardians to pick up their students in a formalized, controlled release. This process is called a Reunification and may be necessary due to severe weather, a power outage, hazmat or if a crisis occurs at the school. The Standard Reunification Method is a protocol that makes this process more predictable and less chaotic for all involved. Because a reunification is not a typical end of school day event, a reunification may occur at a different location than the school a student attends. If this location is another school, then those students may be subject to a controlled release as well.

Notification

Families will be notified of a Reunification situation via automated phone message and email from the district. If a family has opted to receive text messages, a text may also be sent. Information will also be posted on our district and school websites.

Standard Reunification Method Parent Handout

Reunification Expectations

When picking up your child at a reunification site:

• Bring a valid, state-issued ID.
• Students will only be released to individuals previously identified as their emergency contact. [Update emergency contacts in the Parent Portal].
• Be patient. Reunification is a process that protects student safety and provides for an accountable change of custody from the school to a recognized custodial parent or guardian. It will take some time.