Hold – “In Your Room or Area.”

A Hold is used when students and staff need to remain in their classrooms or another designated area while a situation elsewhere in the school is addressed. This might include a medical emergency, an issue in a hallway or a maintenance concern. During a Hold, hallways are cleared, but teaching and normal classroom activities continue until an all-clear is given. A school may also ask staff and students to enter a Hold as a transitional step before a final release from another emergency response, such as a Lockdown.

In NKC Schools, this response was previously called a “lock and teach." The district also maintains a Blood Loss/Traumatic Injury Protocol, which would initiate a Hold.

Secure – “Get Inside, Lock Outside Doors.”

A Secure is used when there is a potential threat or safety concern outside the school building, such as police activity in the surrounding area or another nearby hazard. Students and staff are brought inside, exterior doors are locked and no one is allowed to enter or leave until it is safe to do so. Inside the building, teaching and normal activities generally continue. Depending on the situation, the school may eventually allow monitored entry or a controlled release of students.

Lockdown – “Locks, Lights, Out of Sight.”

A Lockdown is used when there is a potential threat or immediate safety concern inside the school building, such as an intruder, a report of a weapon or another dangerous situation. Students and staff secure themselves in classrooms or other safe areas by locking doors, turning off lights, remaining quiet and moving out of sight. If someone cannot safely reach a secure room, they are trained to move away from the threat when possible. A Lockdown remains in place until law enforcement or other authorized personnel determine it is safe to release, which is done by going physically door to door. 

Remember: Secure = threat outside. Lockdown = threat inside. 

Evacuate 

An Evacuation is used when students and staff need to move from one location to another for safety. Depending on the situation, they may relocate to another area on school grounds or leave campus for a designated safe location. Evacuations may be necessary because of a fire, gas leak, power outage or another situation that makes an area unsafe. If students are moved off-site and cannot return to school, families will receive instructions about when and where to safely reunite with their students through district communication platforms (i.e. ParentSquare).

Shelter

Shelter is used when students and staff need to take specific protective actions because of a weather event, environmental hazard or other emergency. The action taken depends on the situation. For example, during a tornado, students and staff may move to designated shelter areas, while a hazardous materials incident may require everyone to remain indoors and limit outside air from entering the building. During a Shelter, students and staff will be told what the hazard is and what actions to take to stay safe.