Terms and Procedures in the Event of a School Emergency
In the event of a school emergency situation, the District and school staff may use the following terms to ensure a common language. These terms are also used by local law enforcement.
Secured Building:
All Fitzgerald Public Schools (FPS) buildings are secured at all times. A secured school means the school building remains locked at all times. To gain entrance to FPS schools, all visitors must enter through the front door and check in with the security or office staff. Visitors will be asked to show ID, sign in and wear a Visitor Badge. Click here for School Visitors Administrative Guidelines.
Lock Out- Secure the Perimeter (aka Lockdown):
A lockdown is used when there is a community or school based issue that requires restricted access to the school. For example, this procedure may be used when the City of Warren Police or school resource officer (SRO) warns the district of a neighborhood issue or when a threat has been received by the school. A lockdown means that normal instructional activities continue as much as possible, however, no outside events, field trips or outside activities (including recess) occur unless explicitly cleared by the police. In the event of a lockdown, families will be notified by the Superintendent’s office through the phone and text messaging system. While in lockdown, entry and exit to the school will be restricted and only individuals with a pre-existing appointment are permitted to enter the school facility.
Active Threat In/Out Building (aka Full Lockdown):
This lockdown is used to minimize student/staff exposure to a potential threat. In the event of an active threat, all exterior doors and windows will be locked and no one aside from emergency personnel is permitted to enter or exit the school facility. During this lockdown, no outside activities, field trips or outside activities will occur. The students will be kept safe in individual secure classrooms in the building during the event and are not permitted to go outside. In the event of a lockdown, families will be notified by the Superintendent’s office through the phone and text messaging system. Families are advised not to go to the school during an active threat lockdown. Click here to sign-up for the district’s text messaging alerts.
If a situation is not resolved prior to dismissal, students and staff will remain in the building until the situation is cleared by the Warren Police Department or school resource officer. Families will receive ongoing communication from the District via the phone and text messaging system. Students will receive accommodations such as food, water and comfort while remaining in a building after dismissal.
Evacuation:
The District will issue an evacuation of students and staff when leaving the building is the safest alternative. Evacuations may occur in the case of a threat, fire or when the school building is deemed unsafe. Attendance is taken to assure all staff and students are out of the building and arrive at the designation site safely. Each school has a designated evacuation site. School evacuation sites are not publicly available in an effort not to compromise school safety plans. In the event of a school evacuation, the school district will inform parents of the school evacuation site through the phone, email and text messaging system. All contacts, including emergency contacts, will be contacted in the event of an evacuation. Please make sure your contact information is correct.
We understand that school evacuations are stressful for students and their families. To quickly reunite students and their families during an evacuation at the school’s evacuation site, families will receive a message via the District’s messaging system from their child’s school or the District. In the event of an evacuation, the District will follow a standard reunification plan to ensure all students are safely returned to their families. During a reunification, families are directed to:
- Bring a valid form of a picture ID
- Follow the signs and parking directions of the reunification location
- Complete the provided reunification form
- Choose the check-in line that corresponds to your student’s grade
- Provide school personnel at the check-in table with a valid form of photo ID and the completed reunification form
- Wait patiently as a District staff member escorts your student to you
**Please note that only approved adults with a valid photo ID will be allowed to pick up students from the evacuation location.