SECURE – SRP Specific Core Action
SECURE action is when we need to get inside and lock the outside doors of the school. Secure action is called when there is a threat or hazard outside of the school building. Whether it’s due to violence or criminal activity in the immediate neighborhood, or a dangerous animal in the playground, Secure uses the
security of the physical facility to act as protection. Students and staff should be directed inside the building and once the doors are locked. It should be business as usual inside the building. No one should be coming in or going out of the building once doors are secured. Teachers should account for every student and/or visitor in the building. The staff should also have a heightened situational awareness incase things change.
Examples of when a SECURE might be used:
- A person is witnessed with a gun at a neighboring business.
- There is a report of a mountain lion roaming the area.
- Planned police activity in the area (securing suspect on a warrant at a home near by).
- Car chase going through school neighborhood.
- Other criminal activity.
Who initiates a SECURE?
Secure is typically reported by local emergency dispatch to the school office. The office staff then invokes the public address and informs the administration. It may also be reported by students, staff or teachers if a threat is directly observed outside of the building.
The public address for Secure is: “Secure ! Get Inside. Lock outside doors” and is repeated twice each time the public address is performed. “Secure! Get Inside, Lock outside doors. Secure! Get Inside, Lock outside doors.” No one is allowed in or out of the building at this time. Stay inside and continue with your day.”
Who releases a SECURE?
A Secure Action can be released by Public Address. “The Secure is released. All Clear. The Secure is released. All Clear.” “Students and staff, the Secure is released. All clear. Thank you for your assistance with making this Secure work smoothly.”
Added Lifecycle to SECURE Action…
There may be occasions when students expect to be able to leave the building – end of classes, job commitment, etc. Depending on the condition, this may have to be delayed until the area is safe.
Initially it is “no one in, no one out” of the building. As a situation evolves there may be more information available to guide decision making. With the Secure Action, there is the option to transition from the initial response of “No one in or out” to some access control.
An unresolved, but not directly evident, situation at the end of the school day may warrant a Controlled Release. During a Controlled Release, parents or guardians may be asked to pick up students rather than have them walk home. Buses may run as normal, but increased monitoring of the bus area should occur. There may be additional law enforcement presence.
During a SECURE all entrances may be monitored with more intent. An escort may be the plan of action needed.
People sometimes get HOLD and SECURE confused. Remember the main difference is people are brought in the building in a SECURE situation and all business is as usual. In a HOLD it is inside a building, and it is everyone is placed in a pause mode until activities can resume back to normal.
Parent Messaging if a School was in a SECURE Action:
NOTIFICATION THAT SCHOOL WAS IN
SECURE ACTION
Text Message
[School Name] is currently in Secure as a precaution. This situation has the potential to affect student dismissal.
Please check your email for more information.
Phone Call
Parents, [School Name] has been notified of [state the activity occurring outside of the building]. As a precaution, we have placed the school in Secure. Students may not be able to leave until the situation is resolved, and dismissal may be delayed for a short time.
Please be patient. Please check your email for more information.
Email
Subject Line: Safety Notification – Secure Ended at [School Name]
Dear Parent or Guardian,
Today [School Name] was notified of [state the activity occurring outside of the building]. As a precaution, we placed the school in Secure. The Secure status lasted [state the length of time in Secure]. All school operations have now returned to normal.
What is the Secure Action? *
* The Secure Action is called when there is a threat or hazard outside of the school building. Secure uses the security of the physical facility to act as protection.
During Secure, all students and staff are brought into the secure building, and all exterior doors are locked. Classes are able to continue uninterrupted inside the
building.
For additional information download the SRP/SRM Operational Guide.