Safety & Security

What To Do To Prepare (Before)

• Update your contact information with your school, keep it current and check it frequently.
• Be sure you're signed up for ParentSquare, the district's family communication tool.
  • ParentSquare is how we'll let you know an emergency is happening.
• Talk to your child about safety – ask them how their lockdown or drill process works from their perspective. Get a picture of their experience.
• Talk to your school about their safety plan – drills, types of responses, communications.
• Create a Family Emergency Plan (Ready.gov)

What To Do During An Emergency (During)

• STAY BY YOUR PHONE/email/text and our social media/website. We will update immediately when we have accurate information. Rely on us to get you the most accurate information – we are in constant contact with first responders during a crisis.
• DO NOT GO TO THE SCHOOL until directed. These situations are filled with first responders, administrators, and district personnel working through their carefully planned response steps. Trust the process.
• DO NOT CALL YOUR CHILD'S MOBILE DEVICE. A ringing phone can be a safety hazard in many situations. Do not district your child from hearing important instructions during an emergency.
• We will contact you with clear instructions on REUNIFICATION (see "Family Reunification" tab) – if family reunification is required, you will need your ID to verify that you are on the student's emergency contact list.

What To Do After It Happens (After)

• Listen to your child (See TSD Wellness Supports page)
• Seek help from school staff or mental health professionals if needed - you know your child best.
• Call the Crisis Lifeline – Dial 988

• By law, all of our schools are required to conduct at least one drill a month and must practice three basic functional responses: shelter-in-place, lockdown, and evacuation (fire drill). Schools also conduct at least one earthquake drill each year. These regular drills are meant to make systematic responses second nature for staff and students.
• Evacuation routes and procedures for lockdowns and other emergencies are posted in every classroom.
• District staff are trained to respond to an active threat through Run-Hide-Fight training. Run-Hide-Fight is considered a best practice by local law enforcement who worked with the TSD to bring this protocol to our schools.
• Emergency Drills are also conducted on our school buses.

A school lockdown is most often a precautionary measure initiated to keep students safe while law enforcement officials and staff investigate a reported threat. A lockdown is not necessarily an indication that students are in harm's way.

The top priority for school staff during a lockdown, or any emergency, is to keep students safe and implement our safety protocols. While we understand that waiting for specific information is difficult, to avoid interfering with investigations, the district may not immediately release specific information about the reasons for a lockdown.

The district is committed to providing accurate information. Often, it takes time to gather and confirm facts with law enforcement officials and school personnel during an active investigation. We will always do our best to communicate accurate information as soon as we can.

We recognize that during a lockdown, misinformation often spreads quickly through social media or in media reports. Please consider the source of any claim or report outside of official district communication channels.

To help school staff and law enforcement do their work, please do not call or go to the school during a lockdown unless asked to do so. In emergency situations, it is very important to keep parking lots and front entrances clear so law enforcement can access the building.

Please, do not text or call your student's cell phone during a lockdown. Cell phone use could distract a student from hearing or following staff directions, and, in the event of an active threat, could give away your student's location.

We understand that these incidents are stressful. Thank you for your patience and your help as we follow our protocols and work to keep all students and staff safe.

Circumstances may occur at the school that require parents to pick up their students in a formalized, controlled release. The process of controlled release is called a reunification and may be necessary due to weather, a power outage, hazmat, or if a crisis occurs at the school. The Standard Reunification Process is a protocol that makes this process more predictable and less chaotic for all involved.

As a parent, you can assist us by not coming to the school to pick your child up (unless directed to do so). Traffic caused by parents trying to come to the school may impede our process of getting your child to safety. Also, make sure your emergency contact information is up to date at each school and be sure to bring government issued ID with you as we will not release a student to a person not listed on the emergency contact form.

How Families can help during an emergency

We understand that parents want to come to the school or call the school during an emergency. Families can support the school by remaining calm and waiting for information from the district. We will communicate with you as quickly as possible. Your child's safety is our priority.

• Update all emergency contact info
• Do not go to the school
• Be patient

Make a Family Plan

Each family should have a plan covering what to do in an emergency or weather-related situation. The American Red Cross and the Federal Emergency Management Agency recommend that each person be able to be self-reliant for three days.

Please develop a plan and discuss it with your child. If you will not be home, instruct your child as to where he or she should go in the event of an early dismissal due to emergency conditions.

Family Plan Considerations:

• What is the best route home if your child's bus must use an alternate route?
• Where could your child go if he or she needed help?
• Who would care for him or her until you arrive?
• Is there someone your child could call to calm any concerns he or she might have?

Secure Entryways

All schools in the Tahoma School District have secure, single point of entry buzz-in systems that require parents, volunteers and visitors to identify themselves and their reason for visiting the school.

District Safety Team

We continue to collaborate with our local law enforcement partners on a regular basis to ensure the safety of our schools and school community. TSD has a team of nine dedicated school employees assigned throughout the district.

Our safety team includes:

• School Safety Officers (SSO) & Building Managers: TSD staff members are trained in First Aid, Right Response, Narcan administration, Stop the Bleed training, CPR, AED, de-escalation techniques and Crisis Intervention. Our team works with building administration to ensure student and staff safety.
• District School Resource Officer (SRO): The district has 2 dedicated Sheriff deputies who patrol the entire district on a daily basis and responds districtwide to any building needs.
• District Supervisor of Safety and Security: The district's Safety and Security Supervisor is Sean P. Kelly.

Security Cameras

Security cameras are located throughout each of our school campuses. We do not disclose the location of cameras in order to ensure they are not disabled or intentionally avoided by someone wishing to avoid detection.

The District Safety and Emergency Preparedness Committee meets quarterly to discuss, review, and implement safety and emergency preparedness procedures and initiatives.

The committee is comprised of:

• Local law enforcement and first responders
• School safety personnel
• School resource officers (SROs)
• Risk Management
• City of Maple Valley Emergency Management Department
• Representatives from food service, transportation, and building maintenance departments
• School principals and assistant principals
• District office administrators
• Representatives from our counseling and school crisis response teams.