Q: What are you doing to keep our children safe?
Lorain City Schools Safety & Security works closely with students, staff, families, community members, and local safety personnel to build strong relationships that strengthen our safety network. While we cannot share specific safety protocols and plans (doing so would give the "bad guys" valuable information to take advantage of our systems), we can share the proactive measures we have in place to TitanUp! our district:
A.L.I.C.E. Active Shooter Response Training prepares our staff and students to respond with confidence during an active shooter situation
Pressure checks are performed routinely to ensure equipment is functioning properly year-round
Centralized command coordinates communications and building supports during emergency operations.
Community partnerships wrap our students in support, including the addition of a second officer on loan from the Lorain Police Department to support our school district
Community meetings increase communication and collaboration around:
Transforming our schools into collaborative community centers with highly accessible services to students and families (Health care, Basic needs, Economics, Recreation, and Education)
Responding to negative behavior in our schools with a mindset of de-escalation (Debriefing incidents and determining logical consequences)
Providing coordinated supports/services for successful re-entry to school when appropriate
Hiring a wellness coach to stay connected with students who have been expelled or assigned to online learning, coordinate wraparound services for the student and family, and ensure a warm welcome back to school
Keeping our focus on relationship-building to create a network of safety and support district-wide
In addition, when needed, our team has several measures in place to identify, verify the credibility of, and address threats so that we can safely resume classes with peace of mind.
Q: What are lockdowns, and what do the levels mean?
A: A lockdown is a precautionary measure in response to a threat. There are three levels that vary depending on the type of threat indicated.
Level 1 Lockdown indicates a possible threat in the area near the school building. During a Level 1 Lockdown, exterior doors and windows remain locked, and no one can enter or leave the building. Normal school operations are to continue.
Level 2 Lockdown indicates a possible threat inside the school building. During a Level 2 Lockdown, doors and windows are to remain locked, and no one is to enter or leave the building or classrooms. Staff and students are to stay in their designated areas, and hallways should remain clear. Classes may continue as usual in classrooms, but there are no bell changes.
Level 3 Lockdown indicates a possible threat inside the school building. During a Level 3 Lockdown, all doors and windows remain locked, and no one is to enter or leave the building. Interior lights should be turned off. If possible, staff and students should evacuate safely and/or follow A.L.I.C.E. - barricade doors, spread out in the classrooms, and prepare to counter. Staff and students must remain in lockdown until law enforcement releases them. There will be no all clear given over the intercom. You can find more information on how we keep students and staff safe at lorainschools.org/Safe.
SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING
Our community is the most vital part of our safety plan. That is why the district uses a safety hotline to allow students, parents, and other concerned parties to file an anonymous report regarding potential safety issues.
You can report something suspicious by texting or calling our anonymous SaferSchools Ohio tip line at 844-SAFEROH or 844-723-3764. The tip line is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.