Safety
Is someone in immediate danger?
Call 9-1-1
SEE. HEAR. SHARE.
You can help keep your school community safe. If you see or hear something concerning, call 918-480-SAFE (7233) or share with a trusted adult.
SCHOOL EMERGENCY PROCEDURES
- HOW DOES TPS RESPOND IN THE CASE OF AN EMERGENCY?
- What is the process for lockdowns and intruder alerts?
- IF A SCHOOL IS EVACUATED, HOW WILL I KNOW WHERE TO PICK UP MY CHILD?
- SHOULD I PICK UP MY CHILD AT SCHOOL DURING AN EMERGENCY?
- WHERE WILL I GET ACCURATE INFORMATION DURING AN EMERGENCY?
- WHAT CAN I DO TO BE BEST PREPARED FOR EMERGENCIES?
HOW DOES TPS RESPOND IN THE CASE OF AN EMERGENCY?
When the district determines an emergency has occurred, three possible plans of action occur:
1. Go home plan: students return to their homes as quickly and safely as possible. Each school maintains information for emergency contacts for each child.
It is critical that parents and legal guardians advise the school office staff every time emergency contact information changes.
2. Shelter-in-place plan: students stay in their buildings. Typically, inside sheltering is considered a short-term solution. Specific areas of each building are identified as safety zones.
Students in school buildings who are not in classrooms will be escorted by staff to a supervised area and remain there until otherwise notified. No one will be allowed to enter or leave the school for any reason.
3. Evacuation plan: requires that all building occupants exit the building and go to a previously-identified, safe alternate location. Evacuation may mean only going outside and away from the building until an all-clear signal is given. In some circumstances, students and staff may need to be transported and housed temporarily in another location.
What is the process for lockdowns and intruder alerts?
- What are the categories of lock-downs and intruder alerts?
- Who determines when a school goes on lock-down?
- What area is affected by the lock-down?
- What are the immediate actions for each category taken by the school?
- Are parents notified when a lock-down or intruder alert is called?
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Parent notifications are made at the discretion of the principal and will be made as soon as possible through the school's social media sites, SchoolWay feed, and by email. However, in most cases, a notification may not be made immediately during the event as school teams are focused on keeping children actively protected.
Please do not come to the school to pick your child up during a lock-down or intruder alert. We understand that you want to check on your child's safety, but coming to the school during a critical incident may interfere with our ability to respond to the threat and keep our campus secure.
Many lock-downs, especially modified lock-downs (the most common kind), may be over in minutes. The police may move out of the neighborhood or quickly determine there is no threat.
IF A SCHOOL IS EVACUATED, HOW WILL I KNOW WHERE TO PICK UP MY CHILD?
In the event students must be moved to an alternate location, the school will use a number of communications tools including phone, email, social media, and news media to attempt to advise all parents of the alternate location.
Each school has several alternative locations that may be used depending upon the severity of the emergency and the number of school buildings involved. Police, fire, and county and state authorities are aware of the alternate locations for each school.
In the event of an emergency, schools will communicate with parents through the following channels:
Schools may contact you directly; this is why it is important for your school to have updated emergency contact information for your child.
SHOULD I PICK UP MY CHILD AT SCHOOL DURING AN EMERGENCY?
It is every guardian’s natural instinct to go to the school during an emergency, but doing so may interfere with the school’s ability to effectively and efficiently respond to the situation. We strongly encourage parents to not come to the school during an emergency unless and until directed by the district to do so. In most cases, school district administration and district and local emergency responders are the only individuals allowed to enter or leave the school campus or building during emergencies.
WHERE WILL I GET ACCURATE INFORMATION DURING AN EMERGENCY?
The district will use every communications method available to keep parents up-to-date during an emergency. These include:
- District smartphone app SchoolWay;
- TPS web site (updates are posted on the home page);
- Facebook;
- Twitter;
- SchoolConnects (a recorded phone message may be sent to each household if time allows);
- Local news media (be sure to listen carefully for official announcements from TPS); or
- Schools may contact you directly; this is why it is important for your school to have updated emergency contact information for your child.
WHAT CAN I DO TO BE BEST PREPARED FOR EMERGENCIES?
- Make sure your child's school has the most accurate emergency contact information on file.
- Talk to your child about the importance of following directions and listening to school staff during an emergency.
- Monitor the district communications methods mentioned above.
- Make sure you and your family have a personal disaster plan. Visit the following links for additional resources on talking to your kids about disasters:
Contact Us
Call 918-480-SAFE (7233) or email share@tulsaschools.org to report a student or school safety concern.
Bullying
View these TPS policies concerning bullying:
- 2119: STUDENT BULLYING PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION
- 2119: PREVENCIÓN E INTERVENCIÓN DE INTIMIDACIÓN DE ESTUDIANTES
- 2119-R: STUDENT BULLYING PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION
- 2119-R: PREVENCIÓN E INTERVENCIÓN DE INTIMIDACIÓN DE ESTUDIANTES
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