Lockdowns

A lockdown is the confinement of people inside secured rooms for safety measures. It is used when a serious threat exists to the campus that requires students, personnel and visitors to remain in a locked facility for safety. Examples of threats include a fugitive in the area or an intruder in a school. A lockdown may be ordered by law enforcement, the school principal or any school staff who identify a potential threat.

There are two types of lockdowns:

• In a modified lockdown: Modified lock downs are used when the threat is external and not directed at the school. For example, schools may be on modified lockdown if there was a report of a fugitive in the neighborhood. The entries and exits to the school are restricted, however normal instructional activities continue as much as possible.
   
• In a full lockdown: An announcement will be made over the intercom and repeated several times. If there's an intruder, the announcement may include a description. Teachers will pull students and visitors into their classrooms and lock the doors immediately. They will keep everyone sitting on the floor away from the door and windows. Everyone is encouraged to remain calm and quiet. The teachers will take attendance and prepare a list of missing students and extra students in the room. Everyone will remain in the room until a formal announcement is made signifying the end of the lockdown.

As part of our emergency procedures, there is an established chain of command that includes district and school staff and local law enforcement.

Yes. We have ongoing partnerships with local law enforcement including the Tacoma Police Department. During a lockdown, the police department and school district will work collaboratively to respond to the threat and keep students and staff safe.

The district will notify parents as soon as possible about the lockdown through phone messages, or emails. This is why it's vitally important to keep your contact information up-to-date.

Please be aware that emergency situations are fluid and always changing, and that information you're getting from other sources such as the news media and personal Facebook pages may be inaccurate.

We understand that the first reaction of most parents is to come to their child's school. However, we ask that parents and guardians wait until we advise them that it's safe to pick up their child. Parents arriving unadvised to the school may actually hinder the emergency response and could jeopardize their own safety. In extreme cases, law enforcement can arrest anyone who they determine is compromising their efforts.

In the majority of lockdown scenarios, we advise that students and staff remain as quiet as possible and not use their phones. However, if you are contacted by your child, encourage him or her to remain calm and follow the directions of teacher and staff.

There are many ways that cell phone usage can compromise staff and student safety. A phone in use may:

• Give away the location of students and staff in hiding to an intruder
• Activate explosive devices
• Overwhelm local communication networks

Everyone will remain in the lockdown mode until a formal announcement is made that ends the lockdown. After the lockdown ends, normal school activities may resume or students may be released to their parents or other authorized adults according to the school's release procedures in the safety plan.

Yes. Staff and students at every Tacoma public school participate in a minimum of four lockdown drills each year. Information about the lockdown drill is communicated to students in an age-appropriate way, with teachers paying special attention not to alarm younger students.

If you have any questions or concerns about Tacoma Public Schools lockdown procedures, please don't hesitate to contact our Safety & Security Department at 253-571-1255.