Standard Response Protocol

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CHSD Standard Response Protocol

At the Cape Henlopen School District, the safety of our students and staff is of the utmost importance, which is why we are continuously looking for ways to expand and improve the security measures taken in our buildings.

In May of 2023, the Board of Education approved the District’s plan to expand the security staff throughout the District, and seven constables were hired, including a lead constable to oversee the team. In addition to the constables, the District will add a third Delaware State Police School Resource Officer to our safety team beginning in the 2023-2024 school year. You can learn more about the team of SROs and constables on our website at www.capehenlopenschools.com/safety-team

In addition to the security staff, the District has also worked to partner with the Delaware Emergency Management Association (DEMA) and the I Love You Guys Foundation, a national organization that aims to provide school districts with resources and materials as it relates to emergency response protocols and communication. Our administrators and staff began implementing the Standard Response Protocols (SRP) into their training in August 2022 and many have participated in statewide training hosted by DEMA officials. We are excited to launch the Standard Response Protocols with our district families, beginning with the 2023-2024 school year.

SRP Common Language

The Standard Response Protocol (SRP) is based on an all-hazards approach instead of individual scenarios. Like the Incident Command System (ICS), SRP utilizes clear common language while allowing for flexibility in the protocol.

The premise is simple - there are five specific actions that can be done during an incident. When communicating these, the action is labeled with a “Term of Art”, followed by a “Directive.” Execution of the action is performed by active participants, including students, staff, teachers, and first responders. The SRP is based on the following actions: Hold, Secure, Lockdown, Evacuate, and Shelter.

Action Breakdown

HOLD

SECURE

Students are trained to:

Return to the inside of the building
Do business as usual

Adults and Staff are trained to:

Bring everyone indoors
Lock the outside doors
Increase situational awareness
Account for students and adults
Do business as usual

Parent Guidance for a Secure Situation
Secure is called when there is something dangerous outside of the building. Students and staff are brought into the building and the outside doors will be locked. The school might display the Building is Secured poster on the entry doors or nearby windows. Inside, it will be business as usual.

Should parents come to school during a secure event?
Probably not. Every effort is made to conduct classes as normal during a SECURE event. Additionally, parents may be asked to stay outside during a SECURE event.

What if parents need to pick up their student?
Depending on the situation, it may not be safe to release the student. As the situation evolves, SECURE might change to a Monitored Entry and/or Controlled Release.

Will parents be notified when a school goes into SECURE?
When a SECURE event is brief or the hazard is non-violent, like a wild animal on the playground, there may not be a need to notify parents while the SECURE is in place.

With longer or more dangerous events, the school will notify parents that the school has increased its security.

LOCKDOWN

Students are trained to:

Move away from sight
Maintain silence
Do not open the door

Adults and staff are trained to:

Recover students from the hallway if possible
Lock the classroom door
Turn out the lights
Move away from sight
Maintain silence
Do not open the door
Prepare to evade or defend

Parent Guidance for a Lockdown Situation
A LOCKDOWN is called when there is something dangerous inside the building. Students and staff are trained to enter or remain in a room that can be locked and maintain silence.

A LOCKDOWN is only initiated when there is an active threat inside or very close to the building.

Should parents come to the school during a LOCKDOWN?
The natural inclination for parents is to go to the school during a LOCKDOWN. Understandable, but perhaps problematic. If there is a threat inside the building, law enforcement will be responding. It is unlikely that parents will be granted access to the building or even the campus. If parents are already in the school, they will be instructed to LOCKDOWN as well.

Should parents text their students?
The school recognizes the importance of communication between parents and students during a LOCKDOWN event. Parents should be aware though, during the initial period of a LOCKDOWN, it may not be safe for students to text their parents. As the situation resolves, students may be asked to update their parents on a regular basis.

In some cases, students may be evacuated and transported off-site for student-parent reunification.

EVACUATE

Students are trained to:

Leave stuff behind if required to
If possible, bring their phone
Follow instructions

Adults and Staff are trained to:

Bring an attendance sheet and Go Bag (unless instructed not to bring anything with them, dependent on the reason for evacuation.)
Lead students to the evacuation location
Account for students and adults
Report injuries or problems using the Red Card/GreenCard method.

SHELTER

Hazards might include:

Tornado
Hazmat
Earthquake
Tsunami

Safety Strategies might include:

Evacuate to shelter area
Seal the room
Drop, cover, and hold
Get to high ground

Students are trained in:

Appropriate Hazards and Safety Strategies

Adults and staff are trained in:

Appropriate Hazards and Safety Strategies
Accounting for students and adults
Report injuries or problems using Red Card/GreenCard method.