- Hmong College Prep Academy
- Safety and Security
Safety and Security
-
Hmong College Prep Academy (HCPA) is committed to the safety of every student, staff member, and visitor in our buildings. From the moment students arrive in the morning until the time they leave in the afternoon, their well-being remains our highest priority.
District and school leaders are committed to ensuring a safe and supportive learning environment by working closely with local law enforcement and community partners.
This summer, HCPA partnered with the “I Love You Guys” Foundation to train our staff members on school safety using the Foundation’s Standard Response Protocol (SRP) system.
Every year, all students and staff will be trained on the five SRP actions: Hold, Secure, Lockdown, Evacuate, and Shelter.
It’s equally important for families to be familiar with these terms. By sharing this information, we can ensure that when an emergency or drill occurs, everyone—students, staff, and families—uses the same consistent language and has a shared understanding of what is happening.
The SRP is built on a simple idea: there are five basic actions can be performed during any incident.
Standard Response
-
SHELTER
A shelter is called when specific protective actions are needed based on a threat or hazard such as tornadoes or other severe weather.
Students are trained to:
- Follow the instructions of staff
Adults are trained to:
- Lead their students to the assigned shelter area as announced by the administration
-
EVACUATE!
EVACUATE!
There may be times when we need to evacuate the building to ensure the safety of our students and staff. For example, a fire in the building, power outage, gas leak, bomb threat, following a Lockdown situation, etc. Students and staff may evacuate to a safe location within walking distance or may need to be bussed to another location depending on the circumstances.
Students are trained to:
- Leave stuff behind if required to
- If possible, bring your phone
- Follow instructions
Adults and staff are trained to:
- Lead students to evacuation location
- Account for students and adults
- Notify if missing, extra, or injured students or adults
-
LOCKDOWN - “LOCKS, LIGHTS, OUT OF SIGHT”
LOCKDOWN - “LOCKS, LIGHTS, OUT OF SIGHT”
A Lockdown is called when there is something dangerous inside of the building. A Lockdown is initiated when there is an active threat inside or very close to the building. The threat could be a report of a weapon or an armed intruder.
Students are trained to:
-
Move out of sight
-
Maintain silence
-
Do not open the door
Adults and staff are trained to:
-
Recover students from hallway if possible
-
Lock the classroom door
-
Turn out the lights
-
Move out of sight
-
Maintain silence
-
Do not open the door
-
Prepare to evade or defend
Should Parents Come to the Building During a Lockdown?
The natural inclination for parents is to go to the school during a Lockdown. Understandable, but perhaps problematic. If there is a threat inside the building, law enforcement will be responding. It is unlikely that parents will be granted access to the building or even the campus. If parents are already in the school, they will be instructed to Lockdown as well.
Should Parents Text Their Students?
The school recognizes the importance of communication between parents and students during a Lockdown event. Parents should be aware though, during the initial period of a Lockdown, it may not be safe for students to text their parents. As the situation resolves, students may be asked to update their parents on a regular basis. In some cases, students may be evacuated and transported off-site for a student-parent reunification.
-
-
SECURE - “GET INSIDE. LOCK OUTSIDE DOORS”
SECURE - “GET INSIDE. LOCK OUTSIDE DOORS”
A Secure is called when there is a danger outside of the building. It could be a suspicious or distressed person in the area, a bank robbery nearby, a high speed chase, etc. In a Secure, students and staff are brought into the building and the outside doors will be locked. Since SSPPS already has a secured entrance, which means that all building doors are locked from the outside with the exception of the main entry, the school might display a Building is Secure poster on the doors to notify families or others trying to enter the building.
Students are trained to:
-
Return to inside of building (i.e. if they are outside for recess or another activity)
-
Do business as usual
Adults and staff are trained to:
-
Bring everyone indoors
-
Lock the outside doors
-
Increase situational awareness
-
Account for students and adults
-
Do business as usual
-
-
HOLD!
HOLD - “IN YOUR CLASSROOM OR AREA”
A Hold is called to keep a hallway or certain area of the building clear. It could be to provide space and privacy for a medical emergency, clean-up a spill in a hallway, or handle a situation that may be happening in the hallway. Sometimes situations can evolve and we may need to shift from a Hold to another action such as Evacuate or LockDown.
Students are trained to:
-
Clear the hallways and remain in their area or classroom until the “All Clear” is announced
-
Do business as usual
Adults and staff are trained to:
-
Close and lock the door
-
Account for students and adults
-
Do business as usual
-
School Safety Drills
-
Each school is required by Minnesota Statute to complete the following drills every school year:
-
5 lockdown drills
-
5 fire drills
-
1 severe weather drill
In addition, one lockdown drill and one fire drill must take place within the first 10 school days.
The primary purpose of drills is to help staff and students build muscle memory—practicing what to do so the response becomes automatic in the event of an emergency. The secondary purpose is for staff to confirm procedures, clarify roles, and identify any gaps that need improvement.
Drills are educational opportunities, not simulations of danger. For example, in a fire drill, students line up and exit the building when the alarm sounds—schools do not light fires in the hallways. Lockdown drills are handled the same way. No simulated violence or threats are needed; the drill simply involves announcing the protocol (“Lockdown. Locks, Lights, Out of Sight”) and having students and staff practice the proper actions.
By practicing regularly, we are equipping our students and staff with life safety skills in a calm, consistent, and supportive way.
-
