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Wednesday, 29 March 2023 15:15

School Safety Message

March 29, 2023

Dear Parents/Guardians,

As you are probably aware, numerous calls have been made to school districts across the state regarding a possible active shooter threat.  It turned out to be a hoax and there was no emergency.  One of the calls was directed at Ogden High School which created a county-wide law enforcement response to the school.  As a precautionary measure, many of our schools went into a secure protocol at the direction of law enforcement.

A “secure” is part of the Standard Response Protocol (SRP) and it is initiated when there is a possible threat somewhere in the community.  During a “secure” everyone is brought inside the building and the exterior doors are locked.  No one is allowed in or out of the building until the protocol is released.  During a “secure” it is business as usual inside the school.

A secure differs greatly from a “lockdown.”  A lockdown is a much more serious action because it involves a possible threat inside the school.  For your reference, we have attached information on the Standard Response Protocol (SRP) which describes all of our emergency protocols.

We also want to make you aware of the many safety and security measures we have in place in our district:

  • Safety committees - We have two safety committees that oversee school safety for the district.  These committees meet regularly to review safety procedures and implement  security initiatives.  
  • Site assessments - We are in the process of conducting site assessments at all of our schools to help identify and address security concerns.
  • Secure entrances - Over the past several years, we have been redesigning the main entryways at all of our elementary schools to allow for secure, single-point entry.  This coming summer, work will begin on many of our secondary school entrances.
  • Electronic access control - We’ve also been working on upgrading our exterior doors with electronic access control.  This allows for better monitoring of doors while providing for a more secure building perimeter.
  • Door lock upgrades - We are in the process of replacing interior door locks so doors can be more quickly and easily secured during an emergency.
  • Audio Enhancement - These devices give teachers and staff the ability to immediately alert authorities in the event of an emergency at their school.
  • Security cameras - We have nearly 1,200 security cameras in schools throughout our district.
  • Threat assessment - We’ve had a functioning threat assessment team in place for many years that helps to identify and monitor potential threats within our schools. 
  • Partnership with law enforcement - We have a strong partnership with local law enforcement and there are officers assigned to each of our secondary schools.  They also help to cover our elementary schools.
  • Safety Drills - We conduct regular safety drills according to the Standard Response Protocol (SRP).  These include drills for fire, threats of violence and other emergencies.
  • Mental health therapists - We continue to add mental health therapists to our schools to help students who may be struggling with mental health challenges.
  • Monitoring software - We have software that monitors our district network and devices for potential threats and concerns.
  • SafeUT app - We continue to use and promote the SafeUT app which is an anonymous tip line and crisis line.  Tips that are submitted help us to address concerns early while preventing school violence. 
  • WSD Notifier - In the event of an emergency, you will receive texts and emails through the WSD Notifier.  It’s important that you have updated your contact information in this system in order to receive notifications.
  • Social Media - We try our best to monitor activities on social media but we need your help.  If you choose to allow your children to use social media, please talk with them about appropriate use and posting responsibly.  Making threats or even posting jokes related to school violence isn’t funny, it’s criminal.

The safety and well-being of our students and employees is foremost on our minds. We are navigating a societal landscape wherein school shootings, threats and disruptions are far too commonplace. We acknowledge that this creates heightened fear and anxiety for students and families. Please be assured that we are doing all we can to keep our school settings safe. The saying, “See something, say something” is more relevant today than ever before. Everyone plays an important role in school safety. We must look out for one another and work together. 

Sincerely,

WSD Superintendency

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