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Emergency Preparedness

Schools practice safety procedures throughout the school year, including regular fire and earthquake drills, and are trained annually to respond to emergencies.

 

We will have Secure and Lockdown drills for the 2022-23 school year. Advanced notice through our District communication system, ParentSquare, will be provided to parents, staff, and students for ALL LOCKDOWN DRILLS.

 

What's the Plan?

SRP LOGOS

 

El Centro Elementary School District utilizes the Standard Response Protocol (SRP) developed by the I Love U Guys Foundation. The SRP is based not on individual scenarios but on the response to any situation. The premise is simple - five actions can be performed during an emergency:

  • Hold - building or area is put on a Hold based on an activity at the school site. Students and teachers remain in their classroom or area while learning continues inside the school with minimal classroom interruption or distractions. Examples include an altercation in the hallway or a medical issue needing attention (vomit in the walkway).

  • Secure - the building is put in Secure based on activity in the surrounding area, not in the school or on school grounds. School staff move all students and activities inside and ensure the building is locked while learning continues inside the school with minimal classroom interruption or distractions—examples: Law enforcement activity such as serving warrants in the neighborhood; reports of dangerous wildlife.

  • Lockdown - a building is put on Lockdown due to perceived danger inside or near the building. All students and staff are trained to get behind a locked door - Locks, Lights, Out of Sight. In the rare event students cannot get behind a locked door; they are trained in self-evacuation protocols. Examples: Threat inside the school; emergency or dangerous situation very near the building.

  • Evacuate - students and staff are moved to a new or safe location due to a situation in or near the school building. Examples: Gas leak in the school; unsafe condition near school affecting release times.

  • Shelter - students and staff are instructed to take safe shelter due to a situation in or near the school. Examples: earthquakes or other natural events.

What is the Difference Between Secure and LockDOWN? 

While the names are very similar and often confused, they differ greasignificantlytheir meanings, purpose, and severity level.

 

Secure the Perimeter. Schools are put on Secure to safeguard students and staff within the building based on activity in the surrounding area, not in the school or on school grounds. During Secure, school staff move all students and activities inside and ensure the building is locked while learning continues inside the school with minimal classroom interruption or distractions. All doors are locked, and no one can leave or enter the building without police or district approval. The school day operates as usual unless the Secure interfere with release times.
 

 

Locks, Lights, Out of Sight. During a LockDOWN, all students and staff are trained to get behind a locked door - Locks, Lights, Out of Sight. The expectation is that classroom doors are locked and secured, lights are turned off, and students and staff move to a location away from hallway windows and doors. Students are encouraged to remain quiet. Students and staff are released by district or emergency personnel only.

 

In the rare event that a student cannot get behind a locked door, our process is self-evaluation. We encourage you to start a conversation about creating a plan if your child decides to self-evacuate. If your child contacts you to let you know they have self-evacuated, please contact the district at (760) 352-5712 ext. 8557 to advise of their location.

Safety and Emergency Drills

Preparation is the key to effective response in case of an emergency. Drills help our staff and students respond quickly, calmly, and safely to several situations. Drills throughout the school year include:

  • Fire drills are conducted each month
  • Earthquake drills are conducted quarterly
  • LockDOWN drills will be conducted at least once a year, and notice will be provided to parents, staff, and students before the drill date.
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Each of these drills aims to teach confidence and allow students and staff to be "emergency prepared, not emergency scared." Conducting exercises will enable us to evaluate the effectiveness of our evacuation procedures and determine any necessary changes or adjustments to current practices that may be needed to improve performance.

Reunification

As a result of any of the above five scenarios, students may need to be reunified with parents through a controlled release at the school or a reunification at a new location.

We want to reunite students with parents as soon as possible during an emergency. We will work with our police and fire agencies to determine when it is safe to reunite students and parents. These situations often take time and planning to ensure you and your child are reunited safely.