Keeping Our Schools Safe, Together

Every family wants their child’s school to be a safe, welcoming place to learn. Keeping students and staff safe is a shared responsibility across Spring Lake Park Schools — one that includes prevention, preparation, strong partnerships and knowing how to respond if something unexpected happens.  

At the beginning of a new school year, we want to share how we work every day to keep our schools safe. Our students, staff and families are a part of that effort. 

A layered approach to safety 

Our approach to safety and security has many layers. We work to prevent problems, protect our schools, practice how we will respond and learn from what happens so we can continue to improve. 

“We have great relationships with our law enforcement partners, and we work with them all the time to make sure we are implementing best practices and preparing our buildings and staff to respond in case of an emergency,” says Colleen Pederson, safety and security lead. 

Preventing problems is the first part of our safety and security plan. That includes things like secure entrances, door security and knowing who is in our buildings. 

“Throughout the school day, people can only enter our buildings through the main office,” says Colleen. “Secure entrances and alarms at exits help us maintain a secure environment.” 

Prevention also means knowing our students and paying attention to what is happening around us. 

“Building strong relationships with students and knowing what is happening with them helps us identify and manage risks and threats,” says Colleen. “We also learn and practice situational awareness so we know when things ‘seem off’ and we should let someone know.” 

Students and staff are encouraged to speak up if something feels wrong or unusual. The SLP Tip Line also gives students, families and community members a way to confidentially share non-emergency concerns. This can be especially helpful for someone who does not feel comfortable reporting a concern directly to school staff or district leaders. 

Tips can include concerns about bullying or harassment, cyberbullying, drugs or alcohol, safety, theft, threats or fights, vandalism and weapons. Tips are taken seriously and reviewed by a small group of district staff who determine appropriate follow-up. 

“We have a small group of us who monitor the tip line and direct follow-up,” says Colleen. “Depending on the tip, follow-up is something that happens through the school and sometimes we need to work with outside partners.” 

Students can access the tip line directly from their school iPad home screens. Beginning in fifth grade, students also learn how to recognize warning signs, take concerns seriously and tell a trusted adult when something doesn't feel right. 

Practicing how to respond 

Despite the best prevention strategies, unexpected things happen. When they do, school officials and law enforcement partners have specific, planned steps to help keep students and staff safe. 

One way we prepare is by using the same simple language across our schools and with first responders. This is called the Standard Response Protocol. Families may hear these words during a drill or an actual emergency, so it is helpful to know what they mean. 

The Standard Response Protocol includes five responses: 

• Hold — Stay in your room or area. Used when an issue, such as a medical emergency, needs attention in a specific part of the building. 
• Secure — Stay inside. Used when there is a potential concern outside the building. Normal learning can continue inside. 
• Lockdown — Lights, lock, out of sight. Used when there is a threat inside the building. 
• Evacuate — Leave the building. Used when there is a problem inside the building, such as a gas leak. 
• Shelter — Take shelter. Used in the case of severe weather or another environmental hazard. 

Visual reminders throughout our schools help students and staff remember these protocols. We also practice our responses throughout the school year. We conduct five evacuation drills, one severe weather drill and five lockdown drills each year.  

Drills give students and staff an opportunity to practice what to do if there is a threat or emergency inside or outside the building. Families receive advance notice of lockdown drills and have the option to have their child not participate. 

“Like all things, practice provides the opportunity for us to learn and improve,” says Colleen. “It also builds confidence in our ability to respond should there ever be an emergency.” 

Keeping families informed 

When something unusual happens at school, families can expect communication from the school or district. Sometimes, students may hear about an event before their families receive information from us. 

When an incident occurs, staff first focus on managing the situation and keeping students and staff safe. Staff then work to confirm what is happening so they can provide accurate information. 

“We communicate as quickly as possible given specific situations,” says Colleen. “Sometimes getting accurate information takes longer than we’d like, and it’s important to be accurate. We really appreciate families’ patience and understanding.” 

When something unusual happens, a parent's instinct may be to get in the car and come to school. Families are asked to stay calm and wait for more information before coming to any of our campuses. Arriving at school can make it more difficult for staff and law enforcement partners to manage the situation and keep students safe. 

Safety beyond school 

Safety extends beyond emergency situations and into all parts of students' lives. Throughout the year, our schools will share information from trusted sources when safety topics arise in our community. 

For example, cybersecurity and protecting children from identity theft have become growing concerns as more cyber incidents affect the Twin Cities. The Federal Trade Commission provides advice for families on how to protect children from identity theft. 

Local law enforcement have also seen more accidents and injuries involving e-bikes and e-scooters. In June, the City of Blaine adopted an ordinance focused on e-bike and e-scooter safety. The goal is to help keep riders, pedestrians and everyone sharing streets, sidewalks and trails safe. Families can find specific information on the City of Blaine's e-Bike, e-Scooter, e-Moto page. 

Students in Spring Lake Park Schools may use many forms of transportation to get to and from school. On school grounds, students may not ride bicycles, e-bikes or e-scooters. They must walk them while on campus to help keep everyone using our grounds safe. 

Safety is a community activity. Everyone has a role to play and our community has been especially supportive of all efforts to prevent, practice and respond when needed. Colleen Pederson, safety and security lead

Find more information in the Safety and Security section of our website. Watch school newsletters throughout the year for a variety of topics and resources for children’s safety at school, home and in the community.