As soon as a potential threat has been identified to the safety of students or staff, Central Office Administration must be contacted.  A potential threat would be a concern regarding a potential weapon or school threat.  The potential threat may be as a result of a social media posting and may be a comment, photo, or other concerning information.  

Assistant principals or deans should inform building principals, and building principals should contact the Director of Student Services and Career Readiness or designee.  The Director of Student Services and Career Readiness or designee shall contact the Superintendent.

Once the potential threat has been reported, additional information should be gathered and collaboration between Central Office and building administration should continue throughout the process.

Collect all relevant information regarding the potential threat, including the nature of the threat, the individuals involved, and any supporting evidence or witnesses. Document timestamps, locations, and any other relevant details.  Continue to update and communicate with Central Office staff to provide regular updates as needed.

Consult with Central Office to determine next steps and potential parent communication.  The following questions should be considered

• Is there a credible threat?  Has it been resolved?

• How much disruption has this threat created?

• How much awareness is there of the threat?

Best practice is to inform parents when there is a resolved threat determined not to be credible.  If there is no disruption and very limited awareness, it may not be necessary to inform families.  However, we will seek to keep families informed whenever there may be disruption or awareness.

Collaborate with Central Office to prepare a clear and concise parent notification message that contains all the necessary information. Include essential information about the threat, actions taken by the school, and any instructions or precautionary measures for parents and students.

TEMPLATE OF EXAMPLE OF PARENT NOTIFICATION OF A THREAT
docs.google.com/document/d/1cVdSJdg4W2DiZbZwX...

Share draft of the parent notification message with the Superintendent or designee for additional feedback and clarification before sending any communication to families.  The Superintendent needs to inform the Board before any family communication is sent home.

Send the approved parent notification to all parents or guardians using the preferred communication channel established by the school. Ensure that the message is delivered promptly and securely, maintaining the privacy of individual students involved.

Be prepared to respond to any inquiries, concerns, or requests for additional information from parents or guardians. Provide accurate and consistent information, coordinating with appropriate personnel as needed.

Maintain a record of the reported threat, the parent notification, and all related communication. Document the actions taken by the school and any subsequent developments. Ensure that all records are appropriately archived for future reference and compliance purposes.

After addressing the school threat and notifying parents, conduct a thorough evaluation of the entire process. Identify areas that can be improved to enhance future responses to school threats and parent notifications. Implement any necessary changes to prevent and mitigate similar incidents in the future.