Billie Safe Net

HOLD is used in situations that require students to remain in their classrooms. For example, an altercation in the hallway may demand keeping students out of the halls until it is resolved.

STUDENTS

• Remain in the classroom until the “All Clear” is announced

STAFF

• Close and lock the classroom door
• Business as usual
• Take attendance

SECURE is called when there is a threat or hazard outside of the school building. Whether it’s due to violence or criminal activity in the immediate neighborhood, or a dangerous animal in the playground, SECURE uses the security of the physical facility to act as protection.

EXAMPLES OF SECURE CONDITIONS
The following are some examples of when a school or emergency dispatch might call for a SECURE.

• Dangerous animal on school grounds
• Criminal activity in area
• Civil disobedience

STUDENTS

• Return inside the building or temporary building
• Business as usual

STAFF

• Bring everyone indoors
• Lock outside doors
• Increase situational awareness
• Business as usual
• Take attendance

LOCKDOWN is called when there is a threat or hazard inside the school building. From parental custody disputes to intruders to a weapon on campus, LOCKDOWN uses classroom security to protect students and staff from threat.

EXAMPLES OF LOCKDOWN CONDITIONS
The following are simply some examples of when a school or emergency dispatch might call for a LOCKDOWN.

• Dangerous animal within school building
• Intruder
• Angry or violent person attempting to gain entry
• Weapon on campus

STUDENTS

• Move away from sight
• Maintain silence
• Do not open the door

STAFF

• Lock interior doors
• Turn out the lights
• Move away from sight
• Do not open the door
• Maintain silence
• Take attendance

EVACUATE is called when there is a need to move students from one location to another.

STUDENTS

• Bring your phone
• Leave your stuff behind
• Follow instructions

TEACHER

• Lead evacuation to a location
• Take attendance
• Notify if missing, extra or injured students

SHELTER is called when the need for personal protection is necessary. Training should also include spontaneous events such as tornado, earthquake or hazmat.

“State Hazard and Safety Strategy”

HAZARDS MAY INCLUDE:

• Tornado (or other extreme weather)
• Hazmat (chemical spill or fumes)
• Earthquake
• Tsunami

SAFETY STRATAGIES

• Evacuate to Shelter Area
• Seal the Room
• Drop, Cover and Hold
• Get to High Ground

STUDENTS are trained in:

• Appropriate Hazards and Safety Strategies

STAFF are trained in:

• Lead Appropriate Hazards and Safety Strategies
• Take Attendance

Threat - A threat is a communication or behavior that indicates an individual poses a danger to the safety of school staff or students through acts of violence or other behavior that would cause harm to self or others. The threat may be expressed or communicated behaviorally, orally, visually, in writing, electronically, or through any other means. 

Credible threat - A credible threat means that a threat was made with the intent and the apparent ability to carry out the threat. 

Non-credible threat - After an investigation, law enforcement deems a threat non-credible when through the course of the investigation, they find no legitimacy of the threat. All threats are considered credible until we can reasonably articulate otherwise.

• Threats Reported: Incidents are promptly reported to school administration, district administration, or local emergency personnel.
• Immediate Police Notification: Law enforcement is notified immediately by building or district administration.
• Police Response: Law enforcement conducts a thorough investigation with assistance from school and District administrators.
• Credibility Assessment: The threat is assessed for credibility by police, school, and District administrators determining whether it is credible or non-credible.
• Communication Release: The District releases parent and staff communication as soon as the status (SECURE, HOLD, etc.) of the school changes. 
• Ongoing Updates During Active Investigation: Law enforcement provides updates to district administrators as the investigation continues. The District will continue to pass on those updates to parents and staff as necessary.

The District must uphold the integrity of the investigation by refraining from communicating information which may compromise the active investigation. 

Why isn’t the juvenile/student involved in the threat named or consequences shared? Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), all juveniles/students have a right to privacy. There are very clear laws and guidelines regarding what information schools may share internally with faculty and staff, what information may be shared with law enforcement or any outside agencies, and what information may be shared with the community.

The District is monitored by security cameras and armed personnel.

Each building also has an access control buzzer system, which keeps all outside doors locked until a visitor is seen and given entry. 

Texas law now requires school districts to distribute information to parents and guardians about the safe storage of firearms. The attached information will help you learn about options for, as well as how to talk to your child and others about, the safe storage of firearms.

In 2021, 4,613 Texans experienced gun-related deaths. The Texas Department of State Health Services (SHS) reports that 55% of Texas firearms deaths in 2020 were suicides and that 59% of all suicides in Texas were by firearms. Suicide attempts involving firearms have a 90% fatality rate. Restricting access to guns is critical in reducing acts of violence, whether as self-harm or towards others. Acts of mass violence and interpersonal violence often end in suicide.

It is unlawful to store, transport, or abandon an unsecured firearm in a place where children are likely to be and can obtain access to the firearm. Under Texas Penal Code 46.13, a person commits the offense of making a firearm accessible to a child if the child gains access to a readily dischargeable firearm, and the person with criminal negligence:

· Failed to secure the firearm; or

· Left the firearm in a place to which the person knew or should have known the child would gain access

The penalty for allowing a child access to a firearm can range from a Class C misdemeanor (punishable by a $500 fine) to a Class A misdemeanor (punishable by a $4000 fine, a year in jail, or a combination of the two). Texas exempts the purchase of firearm safety equipment from Texas Sales and Use Tax.

Remember, a gun should be stored unloaded in a safe or locked container, with ammunition stored elsewhere. You can learn more and find additional resources from the Texas Department of Public Safety at https://safegunstoragetexas.com.

Safe gun storage is critical to preventing suicide, unintentional shootings, and other tragedies.