DCS All-District Update

Dear Dublin City Schools Families,

The safety of our students is the most important responsibility we have. Keeping our students safe from anything that could harm their physical, mental, or emotional well-being is always our top priority. We respond to every report of a potential threat, and we will never open our schools if we believe the safety of our students or staff is at risk.

In light of the tragic school shooting in Georgia yesterday, we are sending this letter to ensure our families are aware of the comprehensive safety measures we follow. Schools today face a wide range of threats, including those made through social media and other electronic means, and Dublin City Schools is no exception. We want to take a moment to remind our community how fortunate we are to have elite safety protocols in place. We are fully prepared to respond to any potential threat—whether credible or non-credible—and have the necessary safety measures to protect our students and staff. More details about these safety measures are included below.

We are incredibly grateful for the exceptional partnership between Dublin City Schools and the Dublin Police Department, as well as the support of other law enforcement agencies where needed. Together, we prioritize the safety of our students every day.

Thank you for your continued trust and support.

Sincerely,

Our district follows the "I Love U Guys" Standard Response Protocol (SRP), which is designed to simplify emergency response for students, staff, and parents. The SRP uses clear, standardized language for five actions that can be implemented during a school emergency:

• Hold: Used to keep students and staff in their current location while a situation is being assessed, such as a medical emergency or non-threatening issue in the hallways or nearby classroom.
• Secure: Used to secure the perimeter of the school due to a nearby external threat. Students and staff remain inside, and entry is limited. All indoor school activities proceed as scheduled.
• Lockdown: Used when there is an active threat is near or within the building. Students and staff take immediate shelter in their classrooms, lock doors and remain out of sight.
• Evacuate: Used when students and staff need to leave the building quickly, such as during a fire or other imminent threat inside.
• Shelter: Used for severe weather events or hazardous materials, where everyone takes shelter in designated safe areas within the school.

These simple commands help ensure that everyone knows how to respond, keeping students and staff safe in various emergency situations.

As soon as we are notified of a concerning post made online, our Safety and Security team, including our school resource officers and Dublin Police officers immediately take action. They work quickly to identify the source of the post and, if warranted, make contact with any students and families involved.

As part of the investigation, they review the credibility of any threats and determine the level of response needed. Responses vary, and can range from connecting the individual with mental health resources if they are in crisis to detaining any individuals who have committed a crime or remain a danger to themselves or others. In every case, they ensure that any legitimate threat to our schools no longer remains before a school day proceeds. At times, Dublin Police will also coordinate additional patrols with our Safety and Security team at affected schools out of an abundance of caution.

In the event of an emergency, it is important that families and the community recognize our priority is to contact first responders and secure our schools. We make every attempt to communicate with families as quickly as possible.

Our district's broadcast messaging and notification system includes three channels: phone calls, emails, and text messages. Crisis communications are typically tiered, with the first message providing a brief summary of the situation and follow-up messages offering more details. We generally do not send broadcast messages for student medical emergencies, fire/tornado drills, or other situations where there is no threat to student or staff safety. As a reminder, the presence of first responders at a school building does not necessarily indicate an emergency, as they regularly visit our schools for drills, training, classroom visits, and more.

When a threat to safety is made by a student or students, they face district consequences in accordance with our student handbooks and Board policy. Due to federal student privacy laws, we cannot disclose specific details about the consequences or other actions being taken. We cannot share who the student is or the motive for the threat. At times, these are students in crisis; we are trying to get them the help they need while also trying to address the concerns of our community.

We greatly appreciate the support of our families in helping us maintain a safe school environment. If your child shares any safety concerns with you, we kindly ask that you encourage them to provide specific details or evidence, such as text messages, social media posts, or screenshots. This helps us address concerns more effectively. Students can always report concerns directly to an administrator, teacher, or through our Stay Safe, Speak Up reporting system.

We also ask for your help in reminding students that sharing unverified information through social media and mobile applications can lead to unnecessary worry. The "Stay Safe, Speak Up!" hotline or direct communication with the school remain the best ways to share or receive accurate information about any potential threats. Social media can sometimes distort the facts, so it’s important that students understand the seriousness of school safety and the potential consequences of posting anything threatening online.

For families who would like more detailed information about our district’s comprehensive safety measures, we encourage you to read our Safety and Wellness Playbook. This resource outlines the elite safety protocols we follow and provides insight into how we plan and train to respond to potential threats. The playbook includes commonly used safety terms, emergency tips and tricks, and student wellness resources, among other helpful information. It’s a valuable guide for understanding how Dublin City Schools prioritizes the safety and well-being of our students and staff.

Again, we are extremely grateful for the exceptional partnership between Dublin City Schools and local law enforcement, all of whom prioritize the safety of our students each and every day. We are truly better together.