Hold means staff and students need to clear the hallways and remain in their area or room until the "all clear" is announced. During a hold, doors are closed and locked, students are accounted for and it is business as usual inside the area or room. If the students are outside, they will remain as such until the "all clear" is announced or brought to a clear location until they are able to return to their class.
Secure means there is a possible threat outside the school. Most often, this is due to police activity in the area or the neighborhood. Police might be searching for a suspect in a crime, or someone might have spotted a person wanted for questioning. During a secure, it is business as usual inside the building. If students are at recess, or outside for some reason, they are brought inside, the doors are locked and classes continue. The District does not typically send out parent notifications for secures, since they are most often due to police activity in the neighborhood and are usually resolved quickly.
Lockdown means there is a possible threat inside the school. This is not business as usual. Hallways are cleared, classroom and office doors are locked, lights are turned out. Students and staff are instructed to stay quiet and out of sight.
All of our schools can be put in secure or lockdown at the touch of a button. A message with instructions will then play over the school's intercom system.
During a secure or lockdown, do not call or go to the school. Doing so could put you or others in danger. Do not call or text the student’s cell phone. This may put them in danger. The District will communicate with you once we have more information to share. Reliable information and updates can be viewed on the school and District webpages. The Public Safety Office puts a pop-up message with links or more information, when it is available. If further action is needed on the part of parents and guardians, the District will communicate that information with instructions through Parent Square and the District webpage.