School Security and Safety

Below is information regarding how we, here at Otsego, train and prepare to handle situations that threaten the safety of our students and staff, as well as how we protect your children to minimize the harm an outside threat could cause should they come to our school.

The safety of your children is our top priority and we prepare and train our staff and students in case of the unimaginable. Below, you will find information regarding what we preach and teach to your children and our staff, as well as the drills we perform each year so that we are as prepared as we can be in case of a threat.

Please see and review the information below and if you have any questions or concerns, it's important that you reach out to us and let us know. I can be reached by email at koshea@otsegoknights.org or by phone at (419) 823-4381.

At Otsego we take proactive measures that are meant to minimize the likelihood of a threat to our school and to increase the safety/protection of our students and staff. Our two pronged approach to safety includes cultivating culture and preparing for the unknown through training:

1. We work relentlessly to build a "Culture of Caring" on Otsego's campus. Our programs aim to develop a Respectful, Responsible, Accountable, and Honest student body who care about one another. We do this through our PBIS Program (Positive Behavior Interventions & Supports), our Counseling Services, Community Reads Initiative, and Character Development. #TheOtsegoKnights #OneHeartbeat
   
   
2. We also train and prepare our students for emergency situations. We give staff and students the necessary tools to report suspicious or threatening comments/behaviors and to act if/when an emergency occurs in our school. (Run, Hide, Fight & School Safety Drills) (SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING)

A common profile or theme in many of the school shooters are young people who feel disconnected or ignored as well as students who are victims of bullying. Otsego has implemented Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports to help create a culture of caring. We want students that are Respectful, Responsible, Accountable, and Honest. We are making daily efforts, like no time before, to try and create a culture of respect and caring. We actively fight against bullying and mistreatment every day. However, these are kids and bullying has been around for a long time and although incidents of bullying are much lower than in the past, we know it happens. Bullying today is much more common online and through isolation which can be more difficult to detect and more often than not it happens in virtual spaces and chatrooms and in apps that many of us don't even know exist. The programs we are implementing are helping but nothing is 100%. The more we continue to build a culture at Otsego of Caring and Respect, the more likely we are to not create students filled with attitudes of resentment, anger, and revenge towards our school and the kids in it.

Besides our own professional school counselors and our on-staff social worker, we have partnered with the Children's Resource Center. We have a Professional Counselor on hand 4 full days a week as additional support that we utilize through a referral process for students and their families who struggle with a wide range of issues. We cannot ignore this, nor should we hide the fact anymore that many students struggle with depression, anxiety, and various other mental disorders that affect them in many different ways. We have already begun taking steps to help these students and their families. This is a very real problem and we are continuing to try and find ways to positively impact these young people and to let them know that they matter, we care, and we are here.

Students at Otsego are instructed on the nationally recognized "Run, Hide, Fight" response model for active threat situations. Much like the term "Stop, Drop, and Roll", the "Run, Hide, Fight" model is easy to remember in a stressful situation. Below you will find, in greater detail, what exactly is meant by "Run, Hide, Fight" and the actions your child should take (and are being taught) if they find themselves in a situation where they faced an immediate threat to their safety.

Calling 911

• Only call 911 after you are safe
• Try and remain calm and follow instructions
• Keep hands visible at all times once police/first responders arrive and do as they say
• Avoid pointing or yelling
• Know that help for any injured students or staff is on its way

RUN

The first thing we teach students, is that if they can escape and get out of the building they should. Don't think twice just get out.

• Only if they are certain they can get out and have a clear safe escape route.
• Leave their belongings behind
• Help others escape with them, if possible
• Prevent others from going towards harm, into the building
• Call 911, only when they are clear of danger

HIDE

If students are caught in a situation where they do not know where the threat is and cannot safely run out of the building, they should HIDE (Lockdown). Teachers and students have been trained on lockdown procedures and we regularly practice for these situations. Staff and students have been given the tools and know how to protect themselves if they are locked in a room and hiding. Not only do we engage the "Boots" that have been installed in all of our rooms throughout the building, students and Teachers will barricade the door with anything and everything making it virtually impossible for the threat to get into the room. They know to turn off the lights and hide out of sight and to be silent.

• Lock and barricade doors
• Silence phones/devices
• Hide out of sight
• Remain silent

FIGHT

If a student or staff member finds themselves face to face with a threat, and running or hiding is no longer an option, they are taught to fight as a last resort. Fighting is not taught as an offensive reaction but as a defensive reaction, and is by far a superior response to "freezing" or doing nothing. Fighting may also provide a window of opportunity to escape or "Run" from the situation.

• Students should try and disrupt or incapacitate the shooter by throwing objects and moving
• Utilize improvised weapons (find and use anything from their surroundings to strike with or throw)
• Act with physical aggression
• Commit to their actions

Report Suspicious Behavior

We encourage our students, staff, and community to help be our eyes and ears. If you hear/see something, SAY SOMETHING. If you come across something on social media, overhear your kids talking about something or anything else where you feel uncomfortable or concerned, contact us immediately and let us know what you know. This is a team effort and we need to work together. So, if you hear/see/ think something is not right, don't be afraid to take action by contacting the police or the school. Better to be safe than sorry.

School Safety Tip Line

There is help available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Safe Schools Helpline is a free and confidential option for our students to report threats of violence, illegal activity, or any activity they think can harm students or staff in our schools. There is a toll-free number students can call or a number they can text or a web page where they can report their concerns and talk to a trained mental health counselor.

800-4-1-VOICE ext. 359

800-418-6423 ext. 359

Text TIPS to 66746

Rapid Evacuation Drills

Throughout the entire school year we practice no less than 6 Rapid Evacuation Drills to train for instances when our buildings may need to be quickly evacuated. Some emergency situations where the buildings may need to be evacuated quickly include, but are not limited to, fires, gas leaks, and explosion risks. Typically we can evacuate an entire school building in under two minutes and then assemble and account for each and every student in 7-9 minutes. Students are assigned areas to assemble while teachers take attendance of their assigned group and report any missing students.

Rapid Evacuation drills are conducted at various times and days of the week throughout the school year.

School Safety Drills

School Safety Drills are different than Rapid Dismissal drills in that School Safety Drills are specifically designed to educate staff and students regarding procedures to be used in response to a sudden emergency caused by an act of violence or active threat. In addition to our Rapid Dismissal Drills, we conduct three school safety drills throughout the school year. During these drills we reinforce "RUN, HIDE, FIGHT."

During school safety drills we generally practice one of two responses:

The first response is "Lockdown". During "Lockdown" the staff and students will barricade themselves in a classroom ("Hide"), or if feasible, rapidly evacuate the building ("Run"). During "Lockdown" drills staff and students will also discuss the concept for the potential need to "Fight" as a last resort.

The second response is "Lockout". Lockouts are utilized in situations where there is a potential threat to our school but nothing is immediate or imminent. Lockouts are used to restrict access and to minimize the amount of foot traffic throughout the buildings. During a "Lockout" any students or staff who are outdoors will be directed to immediately come back inside. Teachers will continue to instruct classes but with their classroom doors closed and locked. With staff permission, students will be permitted to walk through the hallways but foot traffic will be kept to a minimum until the potential threat situation has be resolved. During "Lockouts" no visitors will be granted permission to enter the buildings.

Tornado Drills

We also conduct one Tornado Drill per month from March- May. During these drills students and staff practice our severe weather procedures and move to designated shelter locations throughout our buildings.

Over the course of the past several years Otsego School District has applied for numerous State and Federal safety and security grants that have been made available. Our District has been fortunate enough to have been awarded funds from several of the grants that we have applied for, and we have utilized these funds to make numerous upgrades to the safety and security of our buildings. Below you will find a list of some of the upgrades that have taken place over the past several years.

Security Cameras

Thanks to grant funding we now have begun to upgrade all of our older security cameras to a new, state of the art, camera system. Our new camera system is equipped with high quality imaging and is linked with local Law Enforcement, giving them the ability to view live stream images in the event of an emergency. The new camera system also includes facial recognition and license plate readers, giving the District the ability to receive instant alerts on people and vehicles that have been flagged in our system.

Access Control

Another area of security that has been more recently upgraded, due to grant funding, is our access control systems throughout all district buildings. Our upgraded access control system included the re-keying of all exterior door locks along with a new upgraded electronic door (FOB reader) system. The new FOB reader system allows us to have full control over who is authorized to access our buildings, when they access our buildings, and what doors they have permission to access. The building access system includes an audible door-prop alarm that sounds when a door has been intentionally propped open or has failed to latch properly. Along with an audible alarm an instant email alert also notifies security staff of the propped or unlatched door.

First Aid Kits

All classrooms have been equipped with emergency first aid kits, giving anyone easy access for the ability to render aid to someone in immediate need.

The Boot

Through donations, Otsego School District purchased a classroom door lock device called "The Boot". "The Boot" takes only seconds to engage and once in place effectively locks doors from the inside making it virtually impossible for anyone from the outside to enter that room. Each time we practice a school safety drill such as a lockdown we have teachers and students engage the Boot.

Reflective Room Markers

Outside of each classroom we have installed highly reflective door markers that are visible from long distances away. These door markers are meant to assist law enforcement and first responders to navigate our building and locate intruders quicker as well as get to rooms that may need assistance efficiently.

Student/Staff ID Badges

All persons in our buildings are required to have Identification Badges on them and students and staff have been provide with official Otsego identification cards. During school hours, all visitors/guests are required to check into the main offices before being given access to any of our buildings. When visitors sign in they are provided with a temporary "Visitor" badge that must be visibly displayed on their person. Anyone NOT wearing an ID badge will be stopped and required to put their ID badge on or report to the office to receive one.

As part of our ongoing commitment to the safety and security of our students and staff, all student vehicles parked on school property are required to display a current school-issued parking pass in the front windshield. The parking pass provides an immediate visual indication that a vehicle has been authorized to be on school property.

This requirement assists Otsego staff in quickly identifying vehicles that belong on campus and recognizing vehicles that may be unauthorized or unfamiliar. Clearly displayed parking passes also allow our security staff to more efficiently monitor parking areas, investigate concerns, and respond to potential safety or security incidents.

Students are asked to properly display their parking pass at all times while their vehicle is on school property. This simple measure is an important part of our overall campus security efforts and helps us maintain a safer and more secure environment for everyone.

All Otsego students are expected to demonstrate respectful, responsible, and appropriate behavior while attending school sporting events. Students should follow the directions of school staff and event personnel, show respect toward players, coaches, officials, and spectators, and avoid behavior that disrupts the event or creates a safety concern.

Please remember that the expectations outlined in the Otsego Student Handbook apply at all school-sponsored events, including athletic contests. Students who do not follow school expectations may be subject to appropriate disciplinary action.

For the safety and security of all students, elementary-aged students must be accompanied by a parent, guardian, or other responsible adult at all times when attending Otsego football games and other school-sponsored sporting events. This includes remaining with the student throughout the event and not dropping them off to attend independently.

Sporting events can involve large crowds, multiple activities, and unfamiliar surroundings. Having an adult present helps ensure students are properly supervised, accounted for, and able to receive assistance quickly if an emergency or other safety concern arises.

We appreciate your cooperation and partnership in helping us provide a safe and enjoyable environment for all of our students and families.

Mr. Crawford serves as our district Safety Director. Mr. Crawford is a Bowling Green native, he is a graduate of Bowling Green High School, and he attended Bowling Green State University where he received a bachelor's degree. Mr. Crawford joined the Bowling Green Police Division in 1997 where he served for 25 years as a law enforcement officer before retiring in 2022.

Hey! My name is Deputy Basler!

I work with the Wood County Sheriff's Office and I am the school resource officer here at Otsego!! Go Knights!

I am originally from Michigan and moved here in 2011. I went to Owens Police Academy and have been with the Wood County Sheriff's Office for four years. Prior to that I worked for two other agencies and have been in law enforcement since 2015. I have a beautiful wife and two sons!