OSPI School Safety Blog for February 2021

See Something. Say Something.

Remember COVID? It is obviously not over yet. The depth, breadth, and duration of the pandemic is something that we had not experienced before. Now, there are hopeful signs among the dire statistics, and more and more schools will be reopening over the coming days, weeks and months.

2020 was a traumatic, tumultuous year. 2021 began that way, as well. There has been a lot of turmoil across the country. The January 6, 2021 saw a violent breach of the US Capitol in Washington, D.C. The National Terrorism Advisory System has noted increased and ongoing threats of violence across the country.

With that as backdrop, we know that schools are often seen and referred to as ‘soft targets’. This may be even more true since our attention has been focused on the COVID pandemic, on providing an education for our students in a variety of ways, and, ultimately, on reopening schools. With that in mind, districts and schools are strongly encouraged to review their district and school comprehensive safety, emergency operation plans (EOPs).

Consider the following suggestions to prepare now for potential new threats:

• Connect with your first responders as soon as possible to determine how you will all work together in the event of an emergency;
• Make sure that your Incident Command System (ICS) is clear and operational;
• Check all your communications systems, both internal and external;
• Revisit and practice building entry and exit procedures, and
• Evacuation plans and procedures;
• Double check reunification plans and locations;
• Be sure staff are trained in all the above, and
• Remember that the overall COVID experience has been very traumatic for students, staff, and families, alike. Have Behavioral Threat Assessment and Behavioral Health teams in place.

And finally, reemphasize the message: See something, say something. Then, be ready to listen and act.

Thank you for all you do to keep our students and staffs safe.