Student Safety & Parent Notification
The safety and security of Santa Rosa City Schools' students and staff is our top priority. SRCS has a comprehensive crisis plan, and district administrators work closely with local emergency management officials and law enforcement to regularly monitor and update these plans.
Additionally, our schools have implemented security measures to ensure the well-being of students and staff. These measures include visitor check-in procedures, surveillance cameras, and support from Student Safety Advisors at many sites.
Sonoma County Essential Five
Sonoma County Essential Five
Santa Rosa City Schools is adopting Sonoma County’s Essential Five for emergency response, a countywide initiative endorsed by the Sonoma County Office of Education. This uniform set of procedures ensures that students, staff, and families are prepared with clear and consistent actions during any school emergency.
By implementing the Essential Five, we are committed to fostering a safer environment and enhancing communication across all our campuses. Students, staff, and families will become familiar with this standardized language and protocols, helping us respond more effectively in critical situations.
1. SHELTER IN PLACE
Implement to isolate students and staff from the outdoor environment and provide greater protection from external airborne contaminants or wildlife. Close windows and air vents, and shut down air conditioning / heating units.
School Actions
Examples
The following are examples of when to call a Shelter in Place:
- Loose dog on playground
- Swarms of bees
- Medical situation in classroom (to give privacy to affected individual)
- Behavioral emergencies (to give privacy to affected individual)
- Environmental concern (gas leak, poor air quality, chemical spill, etc.)
2. DROP, COVER, AND HOLD ON
Implement during an earthquake or explosion to protect building occupants from flying and falling debris.
3. SECURE THE CAMPUS
Initiate for a potential threat of danger in the surrounding community. All classroom/office doors are closed and locked, and all students and staff remain inside until otherwise directed. Instruction continues as planned.
4. LOCKDOWN / BARRICADE
Initiate for an immediate threat of danger to occupants of a campus or school building and when any movement will put students and staff in jeopardy. Once implemented, no one is allowed to enter or exit rooms for any reason unless directed by law enforcement.
5. EVACUATION
Implement when conditions outside the building or off-site are safer than inside or on-site. Requires moving or directing students and staff to move from school buildings to a pre-determined safe location.
School Actions
- Practice Situational Awareness - Use the look, listen and leave protocol.
- Take roll and report missing students, student injury, or surplus students/staff to administrator
- Designated location on or off campus, dependent upon situation.
- Travel in pairs, if possible. Bus transportation may be required.
Examples
Districtwide Parent Notification
When will we notify the entire district community of a school incident?
Our approach is to carefully evaluate each situation on a case-by-case basis in collaboration with law enforcement. We work to ensure that any communications are consistent and thoughtfully crafted. While some situations may warrant communication to the broader district community, others are addressed at the site level, depending on the nature of the incident.
The method and timeliness of communication will depend on the nature of the event and its potential or actual impact on student safety. While it’s impossible to account for every scenario, the following serves as a guide for Santa Rosa City Schools to determine the level of notification and communication systems used with families. Not every incident will require a notification. Each situation is evaluated based on multiple factors, and SRCS reserves discretion in each case.
Low-Level Incident
Poses no or minimal risk to school safety. Regular school activities are not disrupted, and the incident is isolated, affecting only a small number of students.
Example: A minor disturbance or fight
Notification Response: Parents of the involved student(s) will be contacted.
Moderate-Level Incident
Poses a moderate risk to the school. There is some disruption to school activities, such as a schedule change or the cancellation of certain activities.
Example: Police activity in the neighborhood causes students to be brought inside during lunch.
Notification Response: A message will be sent by the end of the school day via ParentSquare.
High-Impact Incident
Poses a significant risk to student safety, causing major disruption to school activities. This may include schedule changes, evacuations, or cancellations, affecting a larger portion of the school population.
Example: A gas leak requiring school evacuation and closure.
Notification Response: Messages will be sent as soon as possible via ParentSquare. If the situation is of public concern, SRCS may also provide updates through social media and/or issue a press release.