Building Safety Designations
Northshore School District has adopted the Standard Response Protocols, five different building designations for students, staff and visitors in the event of school-related emergencies. Each designation is initiated by an audible alert, such as a fire alarm or pre-recorded message. When possible, the building's public address system is used to provide more information about the emergency. Students and staff practice these designations and emergency responses during monthly drills. Specific information about each of the five building designations can be found below.
Hold
Hold is the protocol used when hallways and common areas need to be kept clear of occupants.
Hold is designed to maintain a controlled, secure environment and prevent movement or access in specific areas during a situation that may require further action or evaluation, such as an altercation, privacy issue, or medical incident. This procedure ensures that individuals remain safely in place while awaiting further instructions or the resolution of the situation, without causing intrusive curiosity, panic, or disruption. The educational process and classroom activities may continue.
If the school is placed in Hold status, staff and students will hear: “May I have your attention please? The building is now in Hold mode. Once again, we are in Hold mode.” Staff will follow their training and the advice of school or district administrators in directing students, as needed.
Secure
Secure is the protocol used to safeguard people within the building. Secure will be used for more common incidents where a potentially harmful hazard, such as wildlife on the grounds, police activity in the surrounding community, or suspicious people or circumstances outside on campus. In Secure status, all students are brought indoors, exterior and classroom doors are locked, and blinds are drawn, but the educational process and classroom activities may continue.
If the school is placed in Secure status, staff and students will hear: “May I have your attention please? The building is now in Secure mode. Once again, we are in Secure mode.” Staff will follow their training and the advice of administration or emergency responders in directing students, as needed.
Lockdown
Lockdown is the protocol used to secure individual rooms and keep occupants quiet and in place.
Lockdowns are meant to isolate students and staff from active threats of violence, such as confirmed explosives, armed intruders, and other mortal threats that may occur in a school or in the vicinity of a school. Staff and students will receive instruction so that in the event of the breach of security of a school building or campus, staff, students, and visitors will be able to take positions in secure enclosures. Lockdown drills will be trauma-informed and age and developmentally appropriate. Lockdown drills will not include live simulations of or reenactments of active shooter scenarios.
If the school is placed in Lockdown, staff and students will hear: “Lockdown, Lockdown, we are now in Lockdown.” Staff will follow their training in locking doors and directing students. Law enforcement will assume command.
Shelter-in-Place
Shelter-in-Place is always followed by the hazard and a safety strategy and is the protocol for group and self-protection.
Shelter-in-Place is designed to limit the exposure of students and staff to violent weather, such as lightning and windstorms, and hazardous materials, such as chemical, biological, or radiological contaminants released into the environment, by isolating the inside environment from the outside. Staff and students will receive instruction so that they will be able to remain inside and take the steps necessary to eliminate or minimize the health and safety hazard.
If the school is in Shelter mode, staff and students will hear: “May I have your attention please? The building is now in Shelter mode. Once again, we are in Shelter mode.” Staff will follow instructions from emergency responders and administration, directing students accordingly.
Evacuation
Evacuation may be followed a location and is used to move people from one location to a different location in or out of the building.
When an emergency within a school or its surrounding area necessitates evacuation and/or total or partial closure of the schools within the district, staff will be responsible for aiding in the safe evacuation of the students from the endangered school to its surrounding area.
Staff and students will receive instruction so that in the event the school or area needs to be evacuated due to threats, such as fires, chemical spills, earthquakes, etc. They will be able to leave the building in the shortest time possible and take the safest route possible to a designated reunification site.
If the school is Evacuated, for a reason other than a fire drill, staff and students will hear: “May I have your attention please? Evacuate the building. Once again, evacuate the building.” Staff will follow their training in directing students, and any further instructions from Police, Fire, or District officials.