Keeping our community safe through preparedness, practice and partnerships

When Assistant Principal Angela Kelly’s voice over the intercom at Victor Falls Elementary on Nov. 13 said they were practicing a lockdown drill, the students and staff knew what to do.

They locked the door, turned off the lights, huddled in the corner of their classroom and stayed very quiet. After a few minutes, they were told they can resume learning as usual. 

“We just did a lockdown drill and I think we stayed safe by going under tables and staying under cover,” said Ezra, a third grader at Victor Falls. “A good way we can be prepared is by following the directions that come on the intercom or by our teacher.”

A lockdown, which occurs in the event of a threat on campus, is just one of many drills that schools in the Sumner-Bonney Lake School District practice throughout the year. 

Rehearsing emergency drills plays a vital role in the safety of staff, students and our wider community in case of an emergency, and it is one piece of a larger, nationally-recognized safety response plan adopted this school year.

“We have made a promise to all of our students to know, value, and support them in their pursuit towards graduation and their promising future,” said Brian Scheerer, SBLSD director of safety and security. “Boldly supporting student safety at all of our school sites is one of the best ways to deliver on this promise.”

Preparing for emergencies 

SBLSD implemented an aligned, comprehensive best practice emergency plan for all schools this year after more than two years of research that included a 60-member Safety Task Force of district staff, students, families, community members and first responders. The plan covers a wide range of emergencies, including lockdowns, earthquakes, lahars, fires and other all-hazard incidents.

SBLSD takes a proactive approach to safety, with security cameras, school access control, and video and audio security entrances at all buildings. Anyone can also report a safety concern through the district’s tipline.

The district employs three Campus Safety Officers (CSOs) at each high school and one at each middle school. These district employees help maintain order and discipline in our schools, build relationships and connections with our students and serve pivotal roles in emergency response.

SBLSD continues to work with staff, families, and community members through an ongoing 40-member Safety Advisory Council to address specific aspects of safety in our schools. This year, the subcommittee topics include Facilities & Technology; Natural Disasters; Crimes of Violence; and Mental, Physical, Social & Emotional. 

Practicing together

Even when you have a plan, it’s important to practice it. 

Every month, all schools perform state-required emergency response drills, which include fire/evacuation, lockdown, earthquake and shelter-in-place. 

“It’s important to practice drills at school in case a real event were to happen,” said Bonney Lake School Resource Officer Mike Gould. “Everyone is proficient in their roles and knows what they’re responsible for in a time of a critical incident.”

Bonney Lake High School students practiced both modified lockdown and lockdown drills on Nov. 22.

“We have a lot of people in our building – we have 1,800 students and over 100 staff members and it’s important that we’re all on the same page,” said Bonney Lake High School Principal Tony Clarke. 

Drills can also help students who get nervous about a fire or lockdown drill to feel more confident, said BLHS junior Sydney P.

“It gives them a sense of security that they know what to do in those situations and they can feel safe in the building,” she said.

A common question is: What happens if an emergency occurs and we need to come get our children from school? Schools also perform reunification drills, where staff and students practice evacuating the building safely and work with parent volunteers to reunite them with their students. Ben Striplin, CSO at Lakeridge Middle School, helped lead and organize their drill in September.

“Knowing how to reunite families after an emergency makes the process smoother,” he said. “It’s the peace of mind. Just knowing our school has a plan gives parents and our community confidence that safety is our top priority.”

Creating strong partnerships

SBLSD actively participates in regional safety meetings, coordination of emergency drills, staging exercises, site risk assessments and staff trainings run by law enforcement and emergency responders. 

Last March, SBLSD participated in a regional lahar evacuation exercise in partnership with neighboring cities, school districts and emergency management agencies. The exercise was deemed the largest full-scale drill in the nation

Aside from regional efforts, our emergency response partners have a daily presence in our schools through our School Resource Officer (SRO) partnership with the Sumner and Bonney Lake police departments.

“My role as an SRO is to help maintain safety around the school and to be a resource and a good influence for all students,” said Officer Gould. 

Being present for emergency drills is one way SROs can help – just like Officer Gould did on the day of the lockdown drill at Victor Falls.

“The Sumner-Bonney Lake School District and the Bonney Lake Police Department often work very closely together, and integrate during school drills,” said Officer Gould. “Myself and the Assistant Chief worked with school staff and provided advice on advanced measures of the school security system.” 

Building positive relationships with students is just as important.

You can find SROs playing games with students during recess or partaking in storytime during class. Sumner Police Officer Brian Anderson helps lead Badges & Barbells, an after-school weightlifting and mentoring club. 

“Some of the things I do to connect with them is to just be present,” said Officer Anderson. “Reading the books to kindergarteners and preschoolers was wonderful. Eating lunch with  middle schoolers and hanging out with the high schoolers – just meeting students where they’re at.”

For more information about safety and security in SBLSD, visit sumnersd.org/safety.