Safety and Security

The safety of our students, staff, and community is our top priority. We believe that a safe learning environment is essential for student success, and we are committed to implementing best practices in school safety and security.

One of the key frameworks we utilize is the Standard Response Protocol (SRP), a proven, action-based system that enhances our ability to protect and respond to a wide range of incidents. The SRP provides clear, easy-to-follow procedures for various situations, including weather events, fire, intruders, and other emergencies. With consistent language and defined actions, our students and staff are empowered to react quickly and effectively, ensuring the highest level of safety.

We utilize the SRP because it creates a shared language for safety across all our schools, helping us coordinate responses. This protocol is practiced throughout the school year to ensure that everyone is prepared and confident in how to act, whether it's a drill or a real emergency.

Additionally, we partner closely with local law enforcement and emergency responders to continually assess and improve our security measures. Our facilities are equipped with modern safety features, including secured entrances, surveillance systems, and visitor management protocols, ensuring that our schools remain a safe and welcoming environment for all.

Emergency Communication

During an emergency situation, we want you to receive the most accurate information and you can help by ensuring your information is updated.

In order to receive safety messages during an emergency, the district will contact you through your information found in Skyward Family Access. Log in to your account or contact your child's school to ensure all information is correct and up-to-date.

Each emergency situation will have a different action and a different communication avenue based on parent and staff feedback.

School Closures

How is the decision to close school made?

The transportation manager and superintendent jointly monitor the weather through the previous day/evening/early morning hours. By 5:30 a.m., they determine road conditions and weather impact/outlook. Based on the safety and timing of bus travel and the status of the weather, the superintendent will make the decision to close or not to close schools/district for the day.

School Closure Options:

Option #1 - Snow Day: All Stevens Point Area Public Schools are closed. No after-school activities will occur. This option will be used based on the weather event and the District’s ability to meet Department of Public Instruction minute requirements.

Option #2 - E-Learning Day: All Stevens Point Area Public Schools are closed for in-person learning, and students will have an E-Learning day. No after-school activities will occur. Please note, E-Learning expectations are available for review at the links below:
- E-Learning Day Protocols PK-6
- E-Learning Day Protocols 7-12

Option #3 - Early Dismissal: Dismissal time will be determined based on weather conditions and communicated to families as quickly as possible. If possible, the decision will be made no later than 11:30 a.m. No after-school activities will occur on early dismissal days. Boys and Girls Club and Great Escape may remain open at school-based sites.

Option #4 - After-School Activities and Events Canceled: If school is held, but inclement weather approaches, the decision to cancel after-school events will be made by 2:00 p.m. Cancellations for events/contests scheduled at non-district sites will be made on a case-by-case basis in collaboration with the hosting school/entity.

How will I be notified if school is closed?

Once a decision to close schools, dismiss early, or cancel after-school activities has been made, parents, staff, and the community will be notified through the following communication channels:

District website: www.PointSchools.net
Phone, text, and email notifications (Please review your contact information in Family Access and contact your school if you need to update your phone or email information)
District social media channels
- Facebook
- Instagram
Local media outlets

If you have any questions, please contact the superintendent, 715-345-5444.

Thank you for your support as we prepare for the possibility of emergency school closings.

Emergency Preparedness

Safety and Emergency Drills

Preparation is the key to effective response in case of an emergency. Drills help our staff and students respond quickly, calmly and safely to a number of situations. Drills throughout the school year include:

Fire drills are conducted each month
LockDOWN drills, designed to familiarize students with how to respond to an active shooter in the school, are conducted twice a year - once in the fall and once in the spring
Weather-related tornado drills are conducted twice a year

The goal of each of these drills is to teach confidence and allow students and staff to be "emergency prepared not emergency scared." Conducting drills allows us to evaluate the effectiveness of our evacuation procedures and determine any necessary changes or adjustments to current practices that may be needed to improve performance.

Reunification

As a result of any of the above four scenarios, students may need to be reunified with parents through a controlled release at the school or a reunification at a new location.

We want to reunite students with parents as soon as possible during an emergency situation. We will work with our police and fire agencies to determine when it is safe to reunite students and parents. These situations often take time and planning to ensure you and your child are reunited safely.

Parent Role During An Emergency

In a school emergency, the first instinct as a parent is to pick up the telephone and start calling the school or rush to school to pick up your student. Unfortunately, this reaction only complicates a possible dangerous scene and ties up school staff resources working to resolve the emergency. Individuals too close to an incident often hinder the rescue attempts of first responders on the scene.

The best action parents can take in an emergency is to stay close to their phone/email and to monitor district/school websites for regular updates.

Parent Resources

Promoting a safe and secure learning environment is further strengthened and reinforced through a partnership with students, staff, parents and the community.

See something. Say something.

We encourage students and families to contact their building administrator if they have knowledge of anything that could compromise the safety of our school community.

Parent's role in an emergency

Stay Home – Parents are advised not to come to the school. By arriving at the school you may be endangering yourself or your child. School district personnel and First Responders will be working hard to control the situation and protect your children. Law Enforcement will be focused on the important task of keeping your child safe.
Stay informed – School district personnel will provide information as soon as possible. Some situations take time to verify accurate information. School district personnel will be in communication throughout the situation and will communicate in several different ways: phone, text message, email, district web site, or local news media. Please do not call the school as you most likely will not get an answer or you could be pulling staff away from the emergency situation.
Be ready – In case a reunification is necessary, you’ll be informed of when and where to pick up your child. Please bring a photo ID and be patient in the process of connecting you with your child. The process takes time and it’s important to stay calm. The reunification process protects both the safety of students and provides for an accountable exchange of custody from the school to a recognized parent or guardian.
Hold off on calling or texting your student - Parents will be notified with updates on the situation in a timely manner. When it’s safe to do so, students will be allowed to text their parent(s) during a crisis, if applicable. You should NOT call or text a student’s cell phone during a crisis unless you’ve heard from them first and you know it’s safe to text back. You may be placing your child at risk. Students are trained to stay out of site and quiet during a Lockdown. A phone ringing or vibrating could alert an intruder to the student’s location.
Make a Plan - Talk to your children about school safety. Review as a family how you will communicate, where you will go and safety steps during an emergency.

How to talk with your child after an emergency

Many parents wonder what to say to a child after an emergency situation, crisis or tragedy. Whether students were involved or bystanders, it's extremely helpful to talk with your child about their experience.

Talking to Children About Violence - Tip Sheet from National Association of School Psychologists

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