School Emergency Parent Guide

• Keep your child’s information (i.e. emergency contacts, medical, guardian contact information, etc.) up to date in the eSD Parent Portal, including alternate phone numbers for you and family/friends you have authorized as your back-up for student pickup. If you are unable to update this information in the Parent Portal, please notify the Main Office. 

• Talk with your children about the importance of following instructions in the event of an emergency. 

• Tell your children NOT to use cell phones. Unauthorized cell phone use could put people at risk during an emergency and may distract students from listening to important safety instructions. 

• Have a plan for an emergency, and make sure your children are familiar with the plan.

• Normal dismissal - a normal school day release of students

• Early/late dismissal - same as above but at a different time than normal (i.e. earlier or later)

• Controlled dismissal - involves a situation where some or all of the students would need to be reunified directly with their parents/guardians/emergency contact. Information will be sent out via ParentSquare as to which students and families may be impacted.

• Do not go to the school or scene of an emergency unless officials ask you to, even though a child may ask you to come. Although this may be your first instinct as a parent, your presence may interfere with the emergency response.

• When safe to do so MSCSD will communicate via our ParentSquare Notification System (the same way we notify families of snow days and delays). 

• Check the district website at www.redjacket.org.

• Tune in to local news

• Do not listen to rumors. If your child does contact you, remember that he or she may only know pieces of the larger picture. 

• Remain as calm as you can if your child contacts you. They are looking for your reassurance.

• Reassure your child that school is a very safe place and talk about safety procedures that are in place at your child’s school.

• Practice helps keep us safe.  

• Encourage your child to talk about their concerns and to express their feelings.

• Talk honestly about your own feelings.

Please note:  We are required to have four Lockdown Drills, and eight Evacuation Drills per school year. While this is the minimum, there will be additional drills throughout the year. Beginning in the 2024-2025 school year, the District will be communicating with parents prior to drills using ParentSquare.

Shelter-in-Place:
Students and staff remain indoors because it's safer inside than outside, often during weather emergencies. They may move to sealed or windowless rooms as needed.

Hold-in-Place: 
Used for internal incidents, such as medical emergencies or maintenance issues, to limit movement and keep people out of affected areas until resolved.

Evacuation: 
Students and staff leave the building quickly, such as during a fire. Evacuation may be partial or complete, with a safe off-site location designated for reunification if necessary. Students are released only to verified adults listed as emergency contacts.

Secure Lockout:  
Initiated in response to an external threat, such as police activity nearby. All students, staff, and visitors are secured inside the building, with limited access and outside activities halted. The school day continues as normal inside.

Lockdown:  
Triggered by an immediate threat inside or near the school. Students, staff, and visitors are secured in locked rooms until law enforcement resolves the situation.

Reunification: 
The process of reuniting students with their families after a major incident. Parents must show ID and be listed as emergency contacts to pick up their child. The district may conduct reunification on-site or off-site, depending on the situation, with decisions made to prioritize student safety.