School Safety
School Resource Officers
The safety of our students is of the utmost importance. As such, the Hamilton City School District has worked with the Hamilton City Police Department to make a School Resource Officer (SRO) available at all of our buildings. These officers work tirelessly to build into our students and staff as well as ensure a safe environment inside and outside of our buildings on a daily basis.
Hamilton City School District’s A.L.I.C.E and Lockdown Procedures
In light of recent situations around the country, we want parents to understand the procedures that the schools and district follow in the event of a necessary lockdown. Parents, please note, if you go to a school during a lockdown, you are adding to the confusion around the situation. Beyond that, you will not be able to sign your child out of school during any lockdown.
Lockdown Levels
Hold - Students and staff remain in classrooms. Students and staff are not in danger, but we want to allow for easy movement through the building. An example might be a single student/staff member having a health issue. We would want First Responders to be able to move through the building with empty halls so they can reach that student/staff member as quickly as possible.
No Entry/ No Exit - Requires additional instruction over the PA. No Entry/ No Exit recovers all students from outside the building, secures the building perimeter, and locks all outside doors. This would be implemented when there is a threat or hazard outside of the building. Criminal activity, dangerous events in the community, or even a vicious dog on the playground would be examples of a Lockout response. While the Lockout response encourages greater staff situational awareness, it allows for educational practices to continue with little classroom interruption or distraction.
Lockdown - Lockdown is a classroom-based protocol that requires locking the classroom door, turning off the lights and placing students out of sight of any corridor windows. Student action during Lockdown is to remain quiet. It does not mandate locking outside doors. There are several reasons for not locking perimeter doors during a Lockdown. Risk is increased to students or staff in exposed areas attempting to lock outside doors. Locking outside doors inhibits entry of first responders and increases risk as responders attempt to breach doors.
ALICE
In the event of an active threat inside the school, all students and staff should follow The A.L.I.C.E. Plan. Students and staff should be ready to respond to any and all information that they have available to barricade and prepare to defend themselves, or evacuate to a safer place. THIS IS NOT THE ORDER TO COMPLETE THESE DRILLS, BUT THE TEACHER IS TO DO THE MOST LOGICAL FIRST, DEPENDING ON THE SITUATION.
A – Alert
This is the first step to help protect as many people in the building as possible. Staff will notify the authorities and anyone in harm’s way that can be reached.
#1 – 911
#2 – emergency call to the administration office or front desk
L – Lockdown
By locking down AND barricading entry points, staff and students are making it more difficult for the intruder to get into the room. No one should be permitted to enter a locked-down room except the police.
I – Inform
If it is at all possible, someone in the office will be giving real-time updates on where the intruder is in the building. This allows everyone to make sound judgments about what steps to take to protect students and staff.
C – Counter
As a last resort, if anyone comes into contact with the intruder, they should counter. Countering means students and staff should spread out, throw anything possible at the attacker, rush them or do anything possible to distract or disable the attacker. If someone can get their hands on the weapon, it should be placed in a garbage can and moved as far away from the situation as possible.
E – Evacuate
Students and staff should get out!!!! If it is possible based on the information received, the teacher should get the students out and away from the building. If there is a safe way to get out, they will GO!!!!
City School District Safer Schools Ohio Emergency Guide