Beginning this fall, ACPS will be changing procedures and communication for major emergencies.
Lockdown
Beginning this fall, ACPS will be expanding the options for action that staff and students may take during a lockdown. Previously, a lockdown required the door to be closed, the blinds pulled, lights turned off and students to sit facing a wall away from a window. The new procedures will empower staff and students to choose other options during a lockdown. These may include evacuating the building, barricading a door or distracting a violent intruder.
Remember, a lockdown is declared when a violent intruder is known to be INSIDE the building.
Lock-in
Emergency guidelines regarding the procedure formerly known as “lock-in” – when the risk is OUTSIDE the building – will also change slightly. Staff members on the ground are now able to take appropriate action to keep students safe who may be around or near their building at the time an emergency is called. This may include keeping a building open for a few minutes while students who are in the immediate vicinity enter.
Beginning the first week of school in September, a “lock-in” will be called “secure the building”. Both “secure the building” and “lock-in” will be used until June 2018 when the new processes have been fully integrated.
All other emergency procedures will remain the same.
Why are we making these changes?
Research into violent encounters has shown that when those at the scene are empowered to take actions appropriate to the situation, fewer lives are lost. Research shows that following a single instruction and sitting still in a dark room in the event of a violent encounter can decrease the odds of survival. In these types of incidents, police may arrive after the incident is over. These new procedures empower staff and students to take actions appropriate to each individual situation and act as they think best.
The language change is required because the word “lock-in” is too close to the word “lockdown” and often causes confusion. The two words mean very different things. “Lock-in”, which will now be called “secure the building”, refers to a threat outside the building. “Lockdown” refers to a threat inside the building. The Federal Government refers to a threat outside the building as “secure the building”. To keep things simple and ensure ACPS is in line with all federal emergency guidelines, we are switching to “secure the building”.
How are we implementing these changes?
Ultimately, ALL staff need to be trained in these procedures, but not necessarily at the same level.
Building administrators, the Superintendent’s Leadership Team and security staff need to train as instructors so that they can then train other staff. Instructor training takes multiple days. Instructor training dates are scheduled for October 19 and 20 for four to five people from each school.
All staff members need to complete an online learning session that can be completed on their own time. Staff must complete the online learning before they can participate in the practical training session. This will take place in the building in which you work.
It takes time to fully implement and integrate the changes. ACPS is implementing the new procedures as quickly as possible, but we cannot implement the procedures until all staff members have been trained. Only then can we begin to run full drills with students. ACPS will also have to coordinate the changes with the City emergency response organizations and ensure that all families, including those who may need individualized plans, are fully informed before implementation.
That said, ACPS already practices evacuation with students through other drills (fire drills, bus evacuation drills, etc.), which is at the core of the new lockdown procedures.
Staff will receive different training than students, which involves options on how to address a violent encounter.
For more information please see the Frequently Asked Questions or attend a Staff Question and Answer Session in the fall.
ACPS is in the process of setting up an opt-in emergency text-message system for secondary students and staff. We will let you know as soon as this is ready in the next week or so. This is for use in major emergencies. It allows us to contact staff in specific buildings to notify them about issues. This will not be used for weather notifications or minor emergencies.