Standard Response Protocol
PCK FOLLOWS STANDARD RESPONSE PROTOCOL (SRP)
A critical ingredient in the safe school recipe is the uniform classroom response to any incident. Weather events, fires, accidents, intruders, and other threats to student safety are scenarios that are planned and trained for by school and district administration and staff. Historically, schools have taken this scenario-based approach to respond to hazards and threats. It’s not uncommon to find a stapled sheaf of papers or even a tabbed binder in a teacher’s desk that describes a variety of things that might happen and the specific response to each event.
SRP IS ACTION-BASED
The Standard Response Protocol (SRP) is based not on individual scenarios but on the response to any given situation. Like the Incident Command System (ICS), SRP demands a specific vocabulary but also allows for great flexibility. The premise is simple – there are four specific actions that can be performed during an incident. When communicating these, the action is labeled with a “Term of Art” and is then followed by a “Directive.” Execution of the action is performed by active participants, including students, staff, teachers, and first responders.
'Secure' (formerly 'lockout') is always followed by the Directive: “Secure the Perimeter” and is the protocol used to safeguard students and staff within the building. Classroom operations may continue normally.
'Lockdown' is always followed by “Locks, Lights, Out of Sight” and is the protocol used to secure individual rooms and keep students quiet and in place.
'Evacuate' is always followed by a location, and is used to move students and staff from one location to a different location in or out of the building.
'Shelter' is always followed by a type and a method and is the protocol for group and self-protection.
These specific actions can act as both a verb and a noun. If the action is Lockdown, it would be announced on public address as “Lockdown! Locks, Lights, Out of Sight.” Communication to local Law Enforcement Agency would then be “We are under Lockdown.” Each response has specific student and staff actions. The Evacuate response is always followed by a location: “Evacuate the building and proceed to your designated evacuation area.” Responses can also be combined: “Evacuate to Hallway; Shelter for Tornado; Drop, Cover and Hold.”
In the event an emergency happens inside, outside, or near the school, parents will receive a brief text/email from PCK when possible and/or from Douglas County (if you are opted-in: you can text “Yes” to 68453 to opt in) letting you know what is going on.