ASD School Safety FAQ

WhatstepsdoesAspenSchoolDistrict(ASD)taketokeepits studentsandstaffsafe?

ASDhasarobustsafetyteaminplace.Theteammeetsregularlytodiscusssafety improvementsandprotocols.

AllASDemployeeswearphotoIDcardsatalltimes.Schooldoorsarekeptlockedduring instructionalhoursandallvisitorstoallschoolsandthedistrictofficemustsignin.

SchoolResourceOfficers(SROs),whoareswornlaw-enforcementofficers,workclosely withschoolprincipalstotrackmisconductandtrends.TheSROsworkcloselywithlaw enforcementagencies.

WhoisontheSafetyTeam?

Thisteam,ledbytheDirectorofSafetyandSecurity,threeSROs-withtwostationedfulltimeonASD'scampusandonesplittingtimebetweenASD,AspenCommunitySchool, 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.

DoesASDhavebulletproofwindows?

ASDdoesnothavebulletproofwindows.Thedecisionisprimarilyduetoresource constraintspreventingtheupdateofexistingwindows,andthebuildingswerenot originallydesignedwithenforcedwindowsinmind.

ASDprioritizespreventionandresponsestrategiestoensurethesafetyofstudentsand staff.Thecurrentfocusincludesstrengtheningexistingentrypointswithlaminateglazing orfilmaspartofongoingeffortstoenhancesafetymeasures,withaspecificemphasison creatingamoresecurevisitorentry.

DoesASDhavemetaldetectorsattheschoolentrances?

ASDdoesnothavemetaldetectorsatschoolentrances.Thedistrictisresearching innovativetechnologysolutionsthatsupportsseamlessentryintoschoolswithminimal disruptions.

Thedistrictisactivelyresearchingnon-invasiveorpassivetechnologysolutionsto enhancesafetyforstudents,staff,andthecommunity.Thegoalistofindasolutionthat alignswiththecultureofsafetyandlearning,ensuringthatschoolsremainenjoyable environmentsfocusedoneducation.

Theconsiderationforalternativesecurityscreeningsolutionsstemsfromthedrawbacks associatedwithmetaldetectors,suchasrequiringsignificantstaffmanagement,causing congestion,andcreatinglonglinesduringentry,whichdisruptstheoverallflowof studentsandstaffandcreatesavulnerablepointduringtheoperationalday.

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.

Intheeventofanemergency,howarestudentsevacuatedfrom thebuildings?

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.