Our goal is to inform families as quickly as we can and ensure families have accurate information about what is happening at school, including the steps being taken to protect your child’s health and safety.
If there is a police presence at school, or any threat to safety, we will alert the school community affected as soon as possible. All messages regarding school safety will include the nature of the threat in as much detail as we know.
There are three instances when we cannot share detailed information:
Terms and Procedures for Emergency Response
It is important that all public safety officials, school administrators, communication officers, and members of the media understand and use common terminology. For parents, understanding the terminology may ease fears and concerns during an incident.
Emergency Notification Procedures
Some situations sometimes require APS to share information with families, staff and the community about incidents in a classroom, at school, on a bus or in our communities.
When this occurs, the situation will be assessed and information is gathered by school and division leadership, the School & Community Relations Department, and, in some cases, community partners, such as law enforcement. Situations are handled on a case-by-case basis, and many factors decide if, when and how the division communicates.
Sometimes the timing and frequency of communication are dictated by the scope of an incident and its impact on school safety. While it’s impossible to plan for every scenario, families, staff and the community should know the general guidelines used when district and school leaders are determining the timing and content of the communications. Below are examples of scenarios.
Impact Level
|
Description
|
Notification
|
Low
|
The situation results in little or no risk to school safety or students. There are no disruptions to school or classroom activities. The situation is an isolated incident and may involve an individual.
Examples:
- A school bus is involved in a fender-bender. No injuries.
- Student is disruptive, or dysregulated (not threatening to others).
Minor altercation involving two students or a small group where police or first responders are not contacted. |
Phone call, text or email message to individual families or a classroom. |
Medium
|
The situation poses a moderate risk to school safety or students. There are disruptions to school or classroom activities.
Examples:
- Police or first responders visit a school for a medical emergency and are seen by students or passers-by.
- A student is found possessing a weapon or illegal substance.
- Inappropriate and offensive or discriminatory language is seen by students in school materials or in writing within the school.
|
Text and/or email messages to a classroom, the entire school, or in some cases, the division. |
High
|
The situation poses a significant risk to the safety or well-being of the school or students and has the potential to escalate or cause significant disruption to school activities. The incident impacts many students.
Examples:
- There is a lockdown of the school.
- A credible or substantiated threat is made against a school or a classroom OR a student is found in possession of a weapon or making direct threats to others.
- A fire is lit in a bathroom stall or trash can.
|
Requires communication to the entire school, with certain information shared district-wide. |
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