Hold In Your Classroom

There may be situations that require students to remain in their classrooms. For example, an altercation in the hallway may demand keeping students out of the halls until it is resolved. There may be a need for students who are not in a classroom to proceed to an area where they can be supervised and remain safe.

Public Address

The public address for Hold is: "Hold in your room or area. Clear the halls" and is repeated twice each time the public address is performed. Be as specific as necessary about the place that needs to be kept clear. Be aware if there is a need to add additional directives for any students that are not in a classroom, at lunch or some other location where they should remain until the hold is lifted.

“Hold in your room or area. Clear the halls.
Hold in your room or area. Clear the halls.”

Public Address- Release

A hold can be released by public address.

“The Hold is released. All Clear.”

Actions

Students and teachers are to remain in their room or area, even if there is a scheduled class change, until the all clear is announced. Students and staff in common areas, like a cafeteria or a gym, may be asked to remain in those areas, or to move to adjoining areas like a locker room. Students and staff outside of the building should remain outside, unless administration directs otherwise.

It is suggested that prior to locking the classroom door, teachers should rapidly sweep the hallway for nearby students. Additionally, teachers should take attendance, note the time, and conduct business as usual.

Incident Command System

The School Incident Command System should be initiated.

Responsibility

Typically, an administrator is responsible for initiating a Hold. There may be instances where a teacher or staff member recommends it to administration should they observe something happening that would require this action.

Preparation

Student, teacher, and administrator training.

Drills

Hold is not a Texas mandated drill; however, it is recommended to be drilled at least once per school year.

Contingencies

Students are trained that if they are not in a classroom, they should try to identify the nearest classroom and join that class for the duration of the Hold.

Condition

Secure is called when there is a threat or hazard outside of the school building. Whether it's due to violence or criminal activity in the immediate neighborhood, or a dangerous animal in the playground, Secure uses the security of the physical facility to act as protection.

Public Address

The public address for Secure is: “Secure! Get Inside. Lock outside doors” and is repeated twice each time the public address is performed.

“Secure! Get Inside. Lock outside doors.
Secure! Get Inside. Lock outside doors.”

Actions

The Secure Protocol demands bringing students into a secure building, locking all outside access points.

Where possible, classroom activities would continue uninterrupted. Classes that were held outside, such as gym class, would return to the building and if possible, continue class inside the building.

There may be occasions where students expect to be able to leave the building - end of classes, job commitment, etc. Depending on the condition, this may have to be delayed until the area is safe. During the training period, it should be emphasized to students as well as their parents that they may be inconvenienced by these directives, but their cooperation is important to ensure their safety.

Incident Command System

The School Incident Command System should be initiated.

Responsibility

During a Secure administration or staff may be required to lock exterior doors or windows. Staff members assigned "Primary Responsibility" for a "Secure Zone" would follow the designated protocol as well as during a drill. These areas may include doorways, windows, loading docks, and fire escape ladder access points.

The assigned staff is designated as having "Secure Duty."

There should also be a person assigned with "Secondary Responsibility" for Secure Duty in the event the person with "Primary Responsibility" is absent or unable to perform the protocol.

Assign someone to place the appropriate “Building is Secure” posters on the main entry doors so visitors are aware of the situation.

Reported By

Secure is typically reported by emergency dispatch to the school office. Office staff then invokes the public address and informs administration.

It may also be reported to the school office by students, staff, or teachers if a threat is directly observed outside of the building.

Preparation

Identification of perimeter access points that must be locked in the event of a Secure defines the "Secure Perimeter."

Secure Zones are areas of a school or campus where all exterior access points are identified, and protocols established so that each zone can be assigned to staff to ensure that those on "Secure Duty" secure all areas in their zone. å Preparation includes identification of staff with Primary and Secondary responsibility and assignment of these duties.

Drills

In Texas, Secure drills must be performed at least once per school year.

Contingencies

There may be physical attributes to the campus that mandate special handling of a Secure. An example would be a campus where modular buildings are present. If the modular building cannot be secured, it may be best for students to evacuate to the main building rather than going to Secure in the modular building. Listen for specific additional directives.

If the school is a distributed campus (multiple permanent buildings), they will have to consider what their perimeter is. In a perceived and indirect threat, they may decide that extra supervision for the class changes between buildings is sufficient and appropriate.

If during a Secure an additional hazard manifests i.e.: fire, flood, hazmat, then additional directives will be given for the appropriate response.

Examples of Secure Conditions

The following are some examples of when a school or emergency dispatch might call for a Secure condition.

• Unknown or unauthorized person on the grounds
• Dangerous animal on school grounds
• Criminal activity in area
• Civil disobedience

Condition

Lockdown is called when there is a threat or hazard inside the school building. From parental custody disputes to intruders to an active shooter, Lockdown uses classroom and school security actions to protect students and staff from threat.

Public Address

The public address for Lockdown is: "Lockdown! Locks, Lights, Out of Sight!" and is repeated twice each time the public address is performed.

“Lockdown! Locks, Lights, Out of Sight!
Lockdown! Locks, Lights, Out of Sight!”

Actions

The Lockdown Protocol demands locking individual classroom doors, offices and other securable areas, moving room occupants out of line of sight of corridor windows and having room occupants maintain silence.

There is no call to action to lock the building outside access points. Rather, the protocol advises to leave the perimeter as is. The reasoning is simple - sending staff to lock outside doors exposes them to unnecessary risk and inhibits first responders' entry into the building.

Teacher, staff, and student training reinforces the practice of not opening the classroom door, once in Lockdown. Rather, no indication of occupancy should be revealed until first responders open the door.

Incident Command System

The School Incident Command System should be initiated.

Responsibility

The classroom teacher is responsible for implementing their classroom Lockdown. If is safe to do so, the teacher should gather students into the classroom prior to locking the door. The teacher should lock all classroom access points and facilitate moving occupants out of sight.

Reported By

Lockdown is typically reported by students or staff to the school office. The office staff then invokes the public address and informs administration.

It may also be reported to the school office by local emergency dispatch.

Preparation

Identification of classroom access points that must be locked in the event of a Lockdown is essential preparation. These may include doorways, windows, loading docks, and fire escape ladder access points.

A "safe zone" should also be identified within the classroom that is out of sight of the corridor window. Teachers and students should be trained to not open the classroom door, leaving a first responder or school administrator to unlock it.

Students, staff, and teachers should be advised that a Lockdown may persist for several hours and during an incident; silence is essential.

Drills

In Texas, Lockdown drills must be performed at least twice per school year, once per semester. If possible one of these drills should be performed with local law enforcement personnel participation. At a minimum, law enforcement participation in the drill should occur no less than once every 2 years.

Contingencies

Students and staff who are outside of classrooms when a Lockdown is announced, should get into the first available classroom with a teacher or a room that can be secured. In the event a student or staff cannot get into a room before doors are locked, they should be instructed about other options. In this situation, students and staff should be trained to hide or even evacuate themselves away from the building or area. Students and staff should receive training on where to go, if they evacuate, so they can be safe and accounted for.

If, during a Lockdown, an additional hazard manifests inside the school - i.e.: fire, flood, hazmat; then situational decisions must be made. There should be discussions about reacting to a fire alarm if it is activated during a Lockdown. This may require following additional directives of the SRP.

Examples of Lockdown Conditions

The following are some examples of when a school or emergency dispatch might call for a Lockdown.

• Dangerous animal within school building
• Intruder
• Angry or violent parent or student
• Report of a weapon
• Active shooter

Red Card/Green Card

Red Card/Green Cards should NOT be used for a lockdown. Based on a number of tactical assessments, the overwhelming consensus is that this practice provides information to an armed intruder that there are potential targets in that room.

For more information about the use of Red Card/Green Cards see Appendix B of this Toolkit.

Condition

Evacuate is called when there is a need to move students from one location to another.

Public Address

The public address for Evacuate is: "Evacuate! To a Location." and is repeated twice each time the public address is performed. For instance, "Evacuate! To the Flag Pole. Evacuate! To the Flag Pole."

“Evacuate! To a location.
Evacuate! To a location.”

Actions

The Evacuate Protocol demands students and staff move in an orderly fashion.

Incident Command System

The School Incident Command System should be initiated.

Responsibility

The classroom teacher or administrator is usually responsible for initiating an evacuation. The directives or actions may vary for fire, bomb threat, or other emergencies. In a police-led evacuation, students may be instructed to form a single file line and hold hands front and back, or students and staff may be asked to put their hands on their heads while evacuating. Other directions may be invoked during an evacuation; students and staff should be prepared to follow specific instructions given by staff or first responders.

Preparation

Evacuation preparation involves the identification of facility Evacuation Points, as well as student, teacher, and administrator training.

Evacuation Assembly

The Evacuation Assembly refers to gathering at the Evacuation Assembly Point(s). Teachers are instructed to take roll after arrival at the Evacuation Assembly Point(s).

Drills

In Texas, Evacuation drills must be performed at least once per school year. Fire evacuation drills are mandated separately in Texas to four per school year, two per semester. It is recommended that you discuss fire evacuation drills with your local fire marshal to ensure compliance with local fire code.

Contingencies

Students are trained that if they are separated from their class during an evacuation, then joining an evacuation line is acceptable. They should be instructed to identify themselves to the teacher in their group after arriving at the Evacuation site.

Standard Reunification Method (SRM)

The “I Love U Guys” Foundation has developed guidance for reunifying parents with their children. These materials are available at no cost to districts, departments, and agencies. You can access the SRM materials from the “I Love U Guys” website by clicking the button below.

Condition

Shelter is called when specific protective actions are needed based on a threat or hazard. Training should include response to threats such as tornado, earthquake, or hazmat.

Public Address

The public addresses for shelter should include the hazard and the safety strategy. The public address is repeated twice each time the public address is performed.

“The public addresses for shelter should include the hazard and the safety strategy.”

Hazards May Include

• Tornado
• Severe weather
• Wildfires
• Flooding
• Hazmat spill or release
• Earthquake
• Tsunami

Safety Strategies May Include

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

Actions

The Texas School Safety Center website contains guidance resources for actions associated with severe weather and other threats. Collaboration with local responders, the national weather service, and other local, regional, and state resources should be consulted in developing specific actions for your district response.

Access the Texas School Safety Center's Severe Weather Toolkit by clicking the button below.

Incident Command System

The School Incident Command System should be initiated.

Responsibility

Sheltering requires all students and staff follow response directives. Districts should have procedures for every hazard and threat which include provisions for those individuals with access and functional needs.

Preparation

Identification and marking of facility shelter areas.

Drills

In Texas, Shelter drills must be held twice per school year: once for Shelter-in-Place for Hazmat and once for Shelter in Severe Weather.

Shelter - State the Hazard and Safety Strategy

Using the Shelter directive and stating the hazard, allows for understanding of the threat and the associated protective actions. Most often, a shelter directive is utilized for tornadoes or severe weather, in which case the directive would include where students and staff should shelter and be ready to take a protective posture. Sheltering for a Hazmat spill or release is very different. In the case of a Hazmat situation, students and staff would be directed to close their windows, shut down their heating and air conditioning units, and seal windows and doors to preserve the good inside air while restricting the entry of any contaminated outside air. Listening to specific directives is critical to a successful emergency response.

Plain Language Act

NIMS and ICS require the use of plain language. Codes and specific language that are not readily understood by the general public are no longer to be used. The SRP uses shared, plain, natural language between students, staff, and first responders. This is evident in the directives provided in the SRP. If there are specific directives that need to be issued for a successful response in a school, those should be made clearly using plain language. There is nothing wrong with adding additional directives as to where to shelter, or what protective actions should be used in the response.

Customization

The classroom poster is sufficient for generic Shelter guidance. The Foundation recognizes that localized hazards may need to be added to the poster. Original, digital artwork can be provided to organizations that have signed a "Notice of Intent" or a "Memorandum of Understanding" with the "I Love U Guys" Foundation.