WhatstepsdoesAspenSchoolDistrict(ASD)taketokeepits
studentsandstaffsafe?
ASDhasarobustsafetyteaminplace.Theteammeetsregularlytodiscusssafety improvementsandprotocols.
AllASDemployeeswearphotoIDcardsatalltimes.Schooldoorsarekeptlockedduring instructionalhoursandallvisitorstoallschoolsandthedistrictofficemustsignin.
SchoolResourceOfficers(SROs),whoareswornlaw-enforcementofficers,workclosely withschoolprincipalstotrackmisconductandtrends.TheSROsworkcloselywithlaw enforcementagencies.
WhoisontheSafetyTeam?
Thisteam,ledbytwoCo-LeadersofSafetyandSecurity,threeSROs-withtwostationed full-timeonASD'scampusandonesplittingtimebetweenASD,AspenCommunity School,andAspenCountryDay'scampuses.
Inaddition,thewholeSafetyTeamcomprisestheSuperintendent,theDirectorof Curriculum,schoolprincipalsandassistantprincipals,directorsoftheCottage,facilities, transportation,humanresources,IT,andthecommunicationsspecialist.Additionally, localfireofficialsandlawenforcementofficersactivelycontributetothecollaborative effortsofthesafetyteam.
WhatistheroleoftheSchoolResourceOfficers?
TheSROsplayacrucialroleinmaintainingasafeandsecureenvironmentwithintheschool. Theirprimaryresponsibilitiesinclude:
SecurityandSafety:SROsworktoensuretheoverallsafetyandsecurityoftheschool campus,students,andstaff.Theycollaboratewithothermembersofthesafetyteamto implement,enforce,andconductsafetyprotocolsanddrills.
EmergencyResponse:Intheeventofemergenciesorcriticalincidents,SROsaretrained torespondquicklyandeffectively.Theyworktocoordinateemergencyresponseefforts andprovidesupporttostudentsandstaff.
CommunityBuildingandMentorship:SROsaimtobuildpositiverelationshipswith students,fosteringasenseoftrustandopencommunication.Theyoftenengagein community-orientedactivitiesandeducationalprogramstopromoteasafeand supportiveschoolenvironment.
Educators:SROscontributetoeducationalinitiativesrelativetosafetyandlawatASDand withinthecommunity.Thisincludesprovidingorhelpingtobringvarioustraining seminars,lessons,orprogramsforstaffandstudentsthroughouttheyear.
LawEnforcement:Whileonschoolgrounds,SROsserveasliaisonsbetweentheschool andlawenforcementagencies.Theyaddressanypotentiallegalissueswithintheschool communityandcollaboratewithlocallawenforcementwhenneeded.
WherecanIviewthedistrict’ssafetyprocedures?
ASDssafetyproceduresarepostedontheASDwebsite,ASPENK12.NET.UnderDepartmentsat thetopbar,navigatetotheSchoolSafetyandSecuritypage.Thispageprovidesdetailed informationonStandardResponseProtocols(SRPs),ASD'ssecuritymeasures,andoverall preparedness.
Whatdrillsareinplacetohelpstudentsandstaffrespondto emergencies?
ASDfollowstheStandardResponseProtocols(SRP)foremergencydrills,designedin collaborationwithexperts,includingschooladministrators,psychologists,publicsafety officials,families,andfirstresponders.
-TheSRPisanaction-based,flexible,andwidelyadoptedprotocol,guidingresponses toweatherevents,fires,accidents,intruders,andotherthreats.
-Withfivekeyactions Hold,Secure,Lockdown,Evacuate,andShelter theSRP ensuresauniform,practiced,andrationalapproachtoemergencies.Theongoing developmentinvolvesdata-driventactics,providingcontinuityforstudents,simplifying trainingforteachers,andestablishingacommonvocabularyforcommunitiesandfirst responders.
-TheSRP'sbenefitsincludepredictabilityandrapidresponsedeterminationin unforeseenevents.
Whatistheprotocolforstudents,orparents,whowanttoreport athreat?
Thefastestandprimarywaytospeakupistoinformsomeonedirectly,suchasateacher, principal,otheradministrators,orSROs,inadditiontousingSafe2Tell. MostofourreportshavecomedirectlytotheSafetyTeamfromstudentsandfamilies. Toreportathreat,studentsorparentscanalsoactivelyparticipateinthe"SeeSomething, SaySomething"campaignandleveragetheSafe2Tellprogram.
Thedistrictencourageseveryonetoplayaroleincommunitysafety.Ifsomethingappears unusualorraisesconcernsduringdailyactivitieslikegoingtoworkschool,orthegrocery store,itiscrucialtospeakup.TheSafe2Tellprogramempowersyoungpeopleto contributetocommunitysafetybyallowingreportsatanytime,onanydayoftheyear, expressingconcernsaboutpersonalsafetyorthesafetyofothers.
Whatarethebuildingsecuritymeasuresinplace?
ASDhasimplementedvariousbuildingsecuritymeasurestoensurethesafetyof students,staff,andvisitors.Whilespecificdetailsofsecuritymeasuresmaynotbe disclosedpubliclyforsecurityreasons,thedistrictemphasizesaproactiveapproach. Recentinfrastructureupgradesincludeenhanceddoorlocks,emergencyalertnotification systems,positiveidentificationthroughbadges,andavisitormanagementsystem. Thesemeasures,combinedwiththedistrict'ssafetyprotocols,contributetocreatinga securelearningenvironment.Thedistrictcontinuallyevaluatesandupdatessecurity measurestoalignwiththeevolvingneedsofschoolsafety.
ASDfollowstheSRPprotocolandadherestoinstructionsprovidedbypublicsafety agencies.
Evacuationproceduresmayvarydependingonthenatureoftheemergency,andthe districtprioritizescoordinationwithlocalauthoritiestoensureasafeandefficient evacuationprocessforstudentsandstaff.
Howareparentsnotified?
Parentsarenotifiedthroughamulti-channelcommunicationapproach.
Theschool'sleadershipatthelocationoftheemergencyinitiatesnotificationsviaemail, text,andphonecall,informingparentsofwhetheraSECURE,LOCKDOWN,orEVACUATION procedurehasbeenactivated.Follow-upmessagesarethensentbytheDistrictOffice Communications.
Fordistrict-wideemergencies,theDistrictCommunicationsteamtakeschargeofsending initialandfollow-upcommunicationsthroughemail,textmessage,andphonecalls. AdditionalupdatesarepostedontheASDwebsite(aspenk12.net)andonASD'ssocial mediaplatforms,includingFacebookandInstagram. Thiscomprehensivenotificationstrategyensuresthatparentsreceivetimelyand accurateinformationregardingtheemergencysituation.
First,aparentorguardianmustberegisteredontheirstudent’sPowerSchoolaccountand haveappropriatepick-up/releaseallowances.
Secondly,duringareunificationprocessfollowingaschoolevacuation,aparentmust comewithavalidformofID,eitheraphotoDriversLicenseorPassport.
Howcanparentsandstudentsprovideongoingfeedbackto schoolleadersontheclimateintheirclassroomsandschools?
Encouraginganopenlineofcommunicationbetweenparents,students,andschool leadersiscrucialformaintainingapositiveschoolclimate.Justastheschoolpromotes the"SeeSomething,SaySomething"campaignandSafe2Tellprogramforreportingsafety concerns,wealsoemphasizetheimportanceofsharingfeedbackontheoverallschool environment.Sendfeedbacktocommunications@aspenk12.netandputSCHOOLSAFETY inthesubjectline.
Parentsandstudentscanactivelycontributetoongoingdiscussionsaboutclassroom andschoolclimatethroughavenueslikeparent-teacherconferences,surveys,townhalls, andcommunicationplatforms.
Muchlikethecommitmenttosafety,fosteringacultureofconstructivefeedbackensures thateveryoneplaysaroleincreatingasupportiveandpositiveeducationalcommunity. Together,wecanworktowardscontinuousimprovementandthewell-beingofour students.
Whatresourcesareofferedtohelpstudentsafterascary situationorlockdown?
Followingemergenciesorlockdowns,ASDprovidescounselingandparentresources.
StudentscanaccessessentialmentalhealthservicesthroughAspenHopeCenter's partnershipwithAspenSchoolDistrict.Thecenterofferscrisisintervention,suicideprevention, mobilecrisisresponse,therapy,anda24/7confidentialHopeLineat970-925-5858.
-With17cliniciansstationedinschoolsfromAspentoGlenwoodSprings,this collaborativeprogramfocusesonpreventingcrisesbyprovidingindividualandgroupcounseling, socio-emotionalcheck-ins,andlimitedstaffdevelopment.
-Studentscanseekhelpatschoolwithoutchargesorpaperwork.AspenHopeCenter isdedicatedtoofferingacontinuumofcare,andreducingthestigmaofmentalillness.Accredited bytheAmericanAssociationofSuicidology,itoperatesthestatecrisislineandemploysmobile crisisandco-responseclinicians.
