School Safety and Emergency Procedures

  • LOCKED DOORS

    To help ensure safety, all outside doors to the school are locked from the outside after students arrive in the morning. Please acknowledge this policy and do not open a door from the inside to admit anyone. Do not ask a student to let you in through a door. Visitors must use the front doors and immediately report to the office. We use a 2N intercom system at the Middle School. To gain access to the main office, you will need to press the button on the intercom. Someone will talk to you through the intercom to ask how they can help you and then buzz open the door if applicable.

     

    PROPER IDENTIFICATION

    Make sure you have photo identification (ID)!

    If you are picking up a student, the scanning system will allow us to make sure the student is delivered to the correct individual(s). This is one more level of security that ensures our students are safe. If you are picking up your student, after verifying with your ID, we will have you wait in the vestibule while we call your student to the office for dismissal. Please make sure that anyone picking up our students appears on individual students’ approved pick-up list in the Parent Portal. Adults with a car icon next to their name are approved pick-ups for our students.

     

    EMERGENCY PROCEDURES

    To ensure the safety of students and staff, emergency drills are performed throughout the year. During a fire drill, students are evacuated from the building and gather on the school grounds until they are directed to return to the building. We also practice the following situations: Shelter-in-Place, Hold-in-Place, Lock-Out, Lock-Down, and Evacuation to a different location. 

     

    In a Shelter-In-Place, students and staff remain in their classroom/offices. Classes continue as normal, but there is no movement in the hallways. A Shelter in Place is typically called for weather emergencies.

    In a Hold-In-Place, students and staff remain in their classroom/offices. Classes continue as normal, but there is no movement in the hallways. A Hold in Place is typically called for the purpose of medical emergencies.

    In a Lock Out, the school continues to operate under normal daily routines within the building but curtails outside activity and visitors.

    In a Lock Down, students remain in one location with doors and windows locked and student movement within the building ceased immediately.

    In an Evacuation to a different location, students and staff leave the building and go to a safe location.

     

    EMERGENCY SCHOOL CLOSINGS

    In the event of inclement weather or an emergency school closing, information will be immediately posted on our district website at www.gateschili.org. School closing information will be broadcast on our local radio and television stations. School closings should be announced by 6:00 a.m. In the event of an early dismissal, announcements will also be made on those stations.  During an emergency, please do not call the school about closings unless it is absolutely critical.  This ties up the phone lines and hampers communication for emergency services.

    Since emergency situations cannot be predicted, it is essential to establish alternative plans. In helping you prepare alternative arrangements for your child’s supervision and safety; the following steps are offered:

    • Arrange with a neighbor or relative to take care of your student if you will not be home.
    • Discuss and practice these procedures with your student to ensure they know where to go if an emergency school closing is required.