Preparedness Drills
Tornado, fire, and intruder drills provide our students and staff with the opportunity to practice what to do in case of an emergency and to familiarize themselves with routes and procedures.
These drills are important to maintaining a safe learning environment and are conducted throughout the year, including throughout summer school sessions.
We encourage you to talk with your students about the importance of being prepared, and that safety drills should be taken seriously.
Intruder Drills
The district’s intruder response process is entitled ALICE, (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, and Evacuate). Through the district’s ALICE training, we emphasize that while schools are very safe places, the district values proactive preparation.
ALICE is endorsed by law enforcement agencies across the country and in line with recommendations from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Management Agency (FEMA). ALICE is a national training program developed by school safety experts.
Intruder Drills (School Safety Incidents) are performed at least twice annually and ALICE training is conducted at the site within the first month of school.
Two different types of safety drills are practiced by all schools within the district. The two types are designed to respond to an intruder within the building. These Lockdown safety drills will allow classrooms to practice “locking down” within a classroom or evacuating the school and moving to their rally point. A rally point is a predetermined community landmark near the school, typically a park or church.
Each school has a site-based safety committee that determines the safety needs of each location and will oversee all planning related to the drills. The district’s training and practices allow our staff and students to think carefully about their surroundings at school, and consider what they will do ahead of time in the case of an emergency. ALICE training reinforces that all staff are empowered to make decisions in the best interest of their students’ safety.
Administrators have received training in ALICE. Administrators work with their site safety committees to provide appropriate training and information to staff members, parents, students, and community members.
Goals are to make teachers aware of expectations, options, and the empowerment they are being given to act in the best interest of children’s immediate safety.
- Alert – Teaching and expecting all staff to constantly be alert to their surroundings, know who belongs, understand what is normal in their schools; empowering all staff to “sound the alert” in the event of any emergency. Using plain language to provide information to staff and students.
- Lockdown – Sharing appropriate information so that fear and anxiety are lessened. The vast majority of the times we’ve had to secure school buildings were for matters that posed no danger to students and staff. Should there be a situation where a teacher would need to perform a lockdown of their classroom, they are being taught how to do an “enhanced” lockdown, which would involve barricading the entryways to the classroom.
- Inform – Providing accurate, real-time information to staff, parents and students as soon as possible during any emergency or crisis so that people can exercise the best options available for the physical and emotional safety of the students.
- Counter – Worst-case scenario. This includes talking about possible options that can be exercised if a dangerous intruder were to gain entry into a classroom or office and it became a life or death situation. It is not about teaching kids to fight.
- Evacuation – This is our first option whenever possible. Getting away from danger. Planned, ordered and organized evacuation. Rally points and reunification points will be established and will be shared with parents, staff and students alike.
Tornado Drills
The AASD practices tornado drills at least twice annually, one of which is during annual statewide Tornado and Severe Weather Awareness Week held in April.
Watch versus Warning
When conditions are favorable for severe weather to develop, a WATCH is issued. As storms develop, National Weather Service personnel use information from weather radar, storm spotters, and other sources to issue Severe Thunderstorm and Tornado WARNINGS for areas where severe weather is imminent or already occurring.
Tornado Watch
Severe thunderstorms with tornadoes are possible in your area. Remain alert for approaching storms. Be prepared to move to safety if a Warning is issued. Know what counties are in the watch area by listening to NOAA Weather Radio or local radio or television stations.
Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Thunderstorms with large hail and damaging winds are possible. Be prepared to move to safety if a Warning is issued.
Tornado Warning
A tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar. Move to a place of safety now!
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
A thunderstorm with large hail and damaging winds has been reported or indicated by weather radar.
Warnings indicate imminent danger to life and property to those in the path of the storm.
Fire Drills
All AASD schools comply with state statutes that require schools to conduct monthly fire drills at all levels and buildings and to keep a record of those drills. In addition to state statutes, the following locally adopted International Fire Code (IFC) requirements are also followed:
- The first emergency evacuation drill of each school year will be conducted within 10 days of the beginning of classes
- Emergency evacuation drills will be conducted at different hours of the day or evening, during the changing of classes, when the school is at an assembly, during recess or gym periods or during other times to avoid the distinction between drills and actual fires
The AASD values and prioritizes students’ safety and parents’ peace of mind. We will continuously work to ensure that our staff and students are well prepared for emergency situations.