Understanding school safety systems and terminology

I truly appreciate the feedback I’ve received recently regarding school safety. First of all, you asked for text alerts, not just emails--done! You also wanted to better understand the terminology schools are using these days.
Our schools, like most in Minnesota, use the Standard Response Protocol (SRP), a nationally recognized system that gives students and staff clear, simple actions to follow in the event of an emergency. The SRP uses specific code words so that everyone, including students, staff, School Resource Officers (SROs), police, and first responders, knows immediately what steps to take. There’s no confusion because we’re all using the same language.
Kasson-Mantorville Schools will always use these words in drills and real life events:
Hold — “In Your Room or Area, Clear the Halls.” This is used when hallways need to remain clear, but there is no direct threat to classrooms. For example, if a student has a medical emergency in the hallway, instruction continues while everyone stays in place until the situation is resolved.
Secure — “Get Inside. Lock Outside Doors.” This occurs when something unsafe is happening outside the building, such as police activity in the neighborhood. Students continue learning inside while exterior doors remain locked. We do not allow anyone in nor out during this time.
Run — Hide — Fight If enacted, and if it is safe, the first option is to Run away from danger. If that is not possible, the next step is to Hide, finding a secure location, locking doors, silencing devices, and staying out of sight. As a last resort, when there are no other options, students and staff may need to Fight by defending themselves with whatever is available.
Evacuate — “To a Location.” This happens when students and staff need to leave the building quickly and move to a designated safe location. Examples could be a fire, gas leak, or another hazard inside the school.
Shelter — “For a Hazard Using Safety Strategy.” This is used during severe weather, such as a tornado. Students move to the safest areas of the building, away from windows and exterior walls.
I know these conversations can feel uncomfortable, but they are important. Just as we practice fire and tornado drills, practicing the SRP ensures that students and staff know exactly what to do in a crisis. Our teachers approach this training with care, using age-appropriate language so that students are prepared, but not scared.
For more information on the SRP, I encourage you to visit the I Love U Guys Foundation website, which provides detailed resources for families on the terms we use. You can also visit the FBI’s Active Shooter Safety Resources for further details on Run-Hide-fight.