Standard Response Protocol
York School District 1 follows the nationally recognized Standard Response Protocol for incident response in our schools and buildings. A critical part of a safe school is uniform classroom response to any incident. Weather events, fires, intruders and other threats to student and staff safety are scenarios that are planned and trained for by school and district administration and staff.
The Standard Response Protocol follows a simple but specific vocabulary that allows students and staff to act quickly in the event of a situation.
Hold
This is a procedure when the hallways need to be kept clear of people.
Secure
This is a precaution used to isolate students and staff inside the school from potential dangers outside the school such as criminal activity in the community. Campus staff will bring all children inside, secure the exterior doors, and monitor the situation, preventing unauthorized visitors into the school.
Lockdown
This is a procedure used when there is an threat to the school. Lockdown minimizes access to the school and secures staff and students in rooms. As part of this procedure, everyone must remain in the room until the situation has been declared safe by an authorized person such as a Police Officer. Depending on the circumstances, only persons with proper identification may be allowed to enter and exit the building.
Shelter
This is a precaution aimed to keep students and staff safe while remaining indoors. Situations that may require the campus to shelter in place include natural disasters, severe weather, accidental or intentional release of chemical, biological or radiological material, or an emergency safety situation in the community. Depending on the circumstances, persons with proper identification may be allowed to enter and exit the building. Students may be kept beyond normal school hours, with or without air conditioning. Food and drinks will be made available if students are kept over an extended time.
Evacuate
Evacuate is called when there is a need to move students from one location to another. A typical example of the need to evacuate is in the event of a fire.
All teachers and staff members are completing Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events (CRASE) training. This training is approved by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and delivered by law enforcement. The course teaches situational awareness, Avoid-Deny-Defend tactics, and the importance of developing the "See Something Say Something" mentality in our schools. It prepares staff members to appropriately respond in emergency situations.
