Safety & Security

• Exterior doors at most sites are always locked.
• Where the physical layout of a school allows, security vestibules have been constructed and provide a glassed-in double entry system.
• Video intercom systems help provide building safety by controlling who enters our schools. Once allowed inside, guests must report to the main office, sign in, and wear badges.  Staff members are instructed to report unfamiliar people to the school office. Only those with district-assigned badges are allowed to enter schools freely.
• Where practicable, school perimeters are fenced and locked.
• Security cameras are installed at exterior and interior locations.

• We partner with the Everett Police Department, Mill Creek Police Department and the Snohomish County Sheriff’s office to ensure our safety and emergency plans for all hazards are current and reflect best practices for student safety.
• We work in close collaboration with the City of Everett, Mill Creek and Snohomish County for safe route to school planning and improvements, along with grants for safe walking and biking to school.
• The Safety Department facilitates emergency preparedness training in our district.
• The district partners with various outside agencies like the Red Cross and Department of Emergency Management. 

• District emergency communications plans are updated annually for the start of the school year, as well as emergency communication systems.
• In-person safety training is delivered at each district site to provide updates for response and prevention best practices.
• The district has a pre-identified offsite emergency reunification location, and agreements with disaster agencies like the Red Cross are pre-established for regional disasters.
• District systems are currently in use for student threat assessment, suicide prevention, incident reporting and incident response.
• Safety drills (such as earthquake, lockdown, fire) are performed at all schools for preparedness and regulatory compliance per RCW 28A.320.125.
• Run, Hide, Fight is an emergency response strategy designed to help individuals stay safe during a serious threat.

• Staff access and use of Rave Panic Button phone application for emergency reporting is directly tied to the Emergency-911 system.
   
• Campus Security Officers (CSOs) are assigned to all secondary schools. They perform checks of campuses during school hours to prevent unauthorized access, deter illegal activity, assist with investigations, assist with student supervision and share information with staff and students concerning safety measures.
   
• School Resource Officers (SROs) are police officers that serve secondary school campuses while schools are in session and partner with principals to improve safety by identifying, investigating, deterring and responding to incidents that present a significant threat to safety and security.
   
• Beyond the responsibilities of our Campus Security Officers and School Resource Officers, we utilize school security staff and commissioned police officers to support large sporting events and school-sponsored functions, including graduation.
   
• RAVE Panic Button is a mobile application that the district utilizes to provide rapid districtwide communication during emergencies. 

Everett Public Schools understands the importance of training, drills and exercises in the overall emergency management program. We regularly train and practice safety routines and emergency responses in each of our schools. 

Schools are required to complete one drill per month while school is in session per state law (RCW 28A.320.125). Each school conducts the following drills per year:

• 3 Fire Evacuation Drills
• 3 Earthquake Drills
• 3 Lockdown Drills
• 1 Shelter in Place Drill

During these drills, schools test the Rave Panic Button app which the district utilizes as its mass communication system in emergencies.

Lockout

• LOCKOUTS are precautionary and are initiated when there is a safety concern outside the buildings. It is usually initiated by police and is designed to keep the danger outside of the school.
• All threats are taken seriously and in the interest of student safety, a LOCKDOWN may be initiated while the nature of the threat is evaluated.
• Staff are trained to lock all exterior doors, stay away from exterior windows, and to continually assess the situation. Classroom instruction continues as normal, and necessary movement can occur within the building.
• Exterior doors remain locked, including the front office and no one will be allowed in or out.
• The decision to lift a LOCKOUT is made in concert with law enforcement.
   

LOCKDOWN

• A LOCKDOWN is initiated when there is an immediate threat to the campus or school. In the interest of student safety, a LOCKDOWN may be initiated while the nature of the threat is evaluated.
• Staff is trained to lock classroom doors, shut off the lights, close the blinds and instruct students to sit away from the sightline of the doors or windows.
• Classroom activities cease until the incident concludes.  
• Perimeter doors remain locked, including the front office, and no one will be allowed in or out.
• Phones will not be answered.

Bullying & Harassment:

• Report Bullying & Harassment (Everett Public Schools)

• StopBullying.gov "What You Can Do" (for parents, educators, students, and community (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Emergency Planning:

Kid-Friendly Disaster Preparedness Planning Site (Ready.gov, Department of Homeland Security)

Fentanyl Information:

Find out about Fentanyl by clicking here. 

Fire Safety:
Sadly, house fires are up across the nation.  The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) program, Sparky's School House, has age appropriate activities for pre-school to fifth grade. These are the same materials used by our local fire departments. 

Gun Safety:

We all share a role in the safety of our children and community.  It is normal for young children to be curious and explore in drawers, cabinets and closets at home and when visiting other houses. They are also fascinated with firearms. Preteens and teens may be attracted to firearms and see firearms as symbols of power. Depressed teens may seek household firearms to attempt suicide. Safe storage practices can reduce the risk of firearms ending up in the wrong hands.

The Be SMART framework is designed to help parents and adults normalize conversations about gun safety and take responsible actions that can prevent child gun deaths and injuries.

Simple firearm storage tips include:

• Store firearms unloaded and locked
• To properly store firearms, use a gun safe, gun lock box, a trigger lock or a chamber lock
• Store and lock ammunition in a separate place.

Internet & Student Data Safety:

Below you will find some helpful resources about internet safety, student data privacy and student safety. Please take time to explore these sites and resource pages.

Helpful Resources

These are reliable independently managed resources with a lot of great information for parents.

• Common Sense Media
• Net Cetera
• Digital Citizenship
• NetSmartz
• iKeepSafe
• Be Internet Awesome
• Center for Missing and Exploited Children

Government Resources:

• Child Identity Theft FTC
• Project Safe Childhood
• Staying Safe on Social Networking Sites
• Cyberbullying & Digital/Internet Safety (OSPI School Safety Center)

Social Media Tools

Social media tools change rapidly. Below you will find links to the Help Center and support pages for commonly used social media applications. Knowing how to block or report inappropriate activity on social media is important. Please check out the safety and security pages of these help sites.

• • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • SnapChat
  • TikTok

Natural Disasters:

Earthquake Preparedness

Safe Kids Resources:

Learn safety tips to keep your family safe by clicking on the flyer below. It includes tips, classes and free resources.

Safe Kids Flyer:  
English ,  Spanish ,  Korean  , Chinese , Ukrainian , Vietnamese ,  Russian

For more tips, visit www.safekids.org