Safety and Safety and Your Children

Safety

Safety has always been one of the district's top priorities. Staff throughout the district continually review policies and work to improve preparations and responses to anything that might threaten student safety. No safety system can completely prevent incidents, but Evergreen Public Schools employs numerous strategies to reduce the risk.

These strategies include:

• All hazard emergency plans are in place and practiced at all schools.
• Each school in the district conducts numerous drills to practice evacuation, lockdown procedures, and shelter in place.
• Fire and Police personnel continue to work with school emergency teams to practice emergency procedures using drills and training exercises.
• Employees are trained on how to respond to various incidents. In addition, training is provided for building staff regarding the awareness and recognition of students who potentially may be violent. Many teachers have received anti-bullying training that has reduced bullying behavior on school campuses.

Additonal security measures are in place to protect students. These include:

• Mandatory fingergprinting for all employees.
• All visitors at schools are required to check in at the office. Security personnel are instructed to stop anyone they don’t know, or suspended/expelled students, and escort them to the office.
• The district has a strict policy regarding weapons on school property. Possession of firearms of any kind will result in an automatic expulsion.

Safety and Your Children

Parents can collaborate with school staff to help create safe schools. Following are some things that you can do to help:

• Make sure the school office always has current information about a your place of employment and daytime phone numbers, as well as the names of adults authorized to pick up your child in an emergency.
• Learn about the programs available regarding proper school behavior, getting along with others, positive ways of expression, and understanding racial and cultural differences.
• Consult with the school about district and community resources for at-risk youths and families dispute resolution, intervention, and counseling.
• Have a family emergency plan and be sure your child knows what to do and who to go to for assistance should an emergency occur while they are at home.
• Review bulletins from your child's school that give directions on what you should do if an emergency occurs at school.
• Familiarize yourself with your child's school lockdown and parent reunification procedures.