Commitment to Safe Schools

USD 232 is committed to promoting and fostering a safe learning environment for all schools. We work continuously to prevent, mitigate, respond to and recover from a wide range of emergencies through a multi-layered approach to safety and security. New! Learn more about CrisisAlert School Safety Solution.

School district safety is categorized into three areas, defining our intention and guiding our direction:

Communication, Secure Facilities, Response to Crisis

Timely, thorough, and effective communication guides our prevention efforts, and clarity of responsibilities during an event.

• See Something/Say Something: Building positive relationships among students and staff is critical for establishing the kind of trust needed to create an environment of open and shared communication. This simple message is pushed through multiple avenues.
  
  
  
• Podcast: District Administration and Safety personnel published a podcast dedicated to school safety and security.
  
  
• Website: The district’s website provides the community with safety related resources, including KS School Safety Hotline, KBI Suspicious Activity Reporting page, USD 232 Report Bullying/Harassment form, and KS Parent and Youth Resource Hotline.  Other communications on the website include information on bullying prevention, suicide awareness and prevention, and contact information for Johnson County Mental Health.
  
  
• Handheld Radios: All buildings are equipped with two-way radios, allowing real-time internal communications throughout the day.  Specific radios that can communicate across the district provide access to additional personnel, including law enforcement.
  
  
• Securly: This software is utilized on district-owned devices to help monitor potentially threatening behavior, including mention of weapons, self-harm, and other illegal activity.
     
• Flow Charts: Procedures have been implemented to organize the flow of communication for visitor access, tragedies, and instances when 911 is dialed from a district phone.
     
• Law Enforcement Collaboration: The district maintains ongoing productive and professional relationships with the three agencies serving our schools – Shawnee Police Department, Lenexa Police Department, and Johnson County Sheriff’s Office.   

Access control, visitor management, and sound surveillance techniques help support a safe learning environment.

• Access Control Systems: All buildings have electronic access control systems with video cameras that allow doors to remain locked. Access to the interior of schools is limited through a secure vestibule entrance, requiring visitors to request access through a second, locked door.   

• Video Security System: All buildings are equipped with internal and external security cameras monitored daily by front office staff, School Resource Officers, and other personnel with authorized access.  There are nearly 900 cameras district-wide, with additional cameras added as new needs are identified.   

• School Resource Officers: Law enforcement officers are embedded into secondary schools, but are also assigned to elementary schools to maintain professional, working relationships with the administration for when law enforcement needs arise. SROs also help support safety training for staff.
  
  
• Door Checks: Routine door checks by staff help ensure locks are functioning. Propping doors open is strictly prohibited.
  
  
• Safety & Security Checks: District personnel in conjunction with SROs conduct safety checks to help identify areas for improvement.

Planning and practice help ensure proper performance when the need for action is evident. 

• Crisis Alert System: The district is exploring the possible implementation of the Crisis Alert System by Centegix. The Crisis Alert solution would give every employee district-wide the ability to signal for help, allowing for two levels of crisis alerts while providing their exact location on campus.
  
  
• Digital Clock, Speaker System: The multicolor, scrolling displays and speakers will eventually allow the district to broadcast daily announcements, as well as emergency notifications to all students and staff at the touch of a button.
  
  
• Drills and Training: The State of Kansas (K.S.A. 31-133) requires schools to administer a minimum number of fire, tornado, and crisis drills each year.  The crisis drills are created with the intent of educating students and staff on the proper response to a threat and are designed to be age appropriate.  Additionally, the district safety team conducts scenario-based crisis response training for district staff. 
   
• Crisis Planning/Guides: Content for new emergency response guides is currently being created from the district’s more complex crisis management plans. The guides will allow instant access to streamlined plans, and will later be rolled out in a mobile application to staff.
  
  
• Door Numbering: Work is underway on a project to number all exterior doors at every facility district-wide. A uniform system of door numbering across the district will allow staff to better guide emergency personnel to the appropriate location during all levels of crisis, from medical emergencies to a building intruder.