Page 3 - 2019 March BPS news

By: Matt Reed, BPS News
Space Coast schools seldom use the term “lockdown”
anymore when communicating with district security or
for the 2019/2020 School Year
a good thing.
their severity. Parents should know the difference so
that they better understand the notifications they receive
assailant and are still searching for the suspect.
• An out-of-control spouse or parent, potentially armed,
about •whMatu’sshtahpapevneinagnatInthdeiivr icdhuilad’lsizsechdoEold. ucation Plan (IEP) or
a 504 Accommodation Plan.
“SHELTER IN PLACE”
Students and staff experience little difference during a
has come to campus to threaten a staff member.
• A real or potential “active shooter” has been spotted
To learn more about your educational options, please contact the Florida Department of Education,
“shelter in place.”
When asked to shelter in place, students and staff remain where they are, and school operations continue normally.
As a service to families, school principals or BPS District
Communications almost always notifies a school’s parents
at 321.633.1000 ext. 503 or visit the BPS website at: www.brevardschools.org
Classroom doors and exterior entryways and gates already
if the campus has had to “shelter in place.”
On the BPS website, select “Departments & Programs”, click under “Exceptional Student
are required to remain locked during the school day, so
Education”. Then look to your left on that page and click on McKay Scholarship
there should be no reason for teachers to secure their doors.
Students outside for recess or PE are brought indoors. If it is dismissal time, students are kept indoors, not released to parents who might be waiting outdoors. Principals and resource officers typically call for a school to shelter in place as a precaution when:
• There is police activity in the neighborhood, such as pursuit of a robbery suspect.
• Police are investigating an alleged – but not confirmed – threat to the school. The most common examples are menacing Snapchat posts or threatening graffiti discovered on a bathroom wall.
• The school receives a warning about sudden, severe weather.
“LOCKDOWN”
An order to “lockdown” means that something more urgent and potentially dangerous is going on. Fortunately, this doesn’t happen often.
A school “lockdown” triggers more urgent and expansive crisis communications including notifications to parents by text, email, BPS app alert and sometimes phone message.
Parents should pay close attention to those messages, which will state whether students are safe and whether parents should go to the school or other “reunification” site to pick up their children.
for Students with Disabilities Program Information for Parents Considering a McKay Scholarship
Know the Difference: “Lockdown” vs. “Shelter in Place”
whIennonrodtifeyrinfgopraarenstsudueringt atosebrieoueslingcibdelentf. oThrath’se McKay Scholarship Program for the
2019/2020 school year, the student must:
Instead, our students and staff mostly “shelter in place,”
• Have been enrolled in Florida public school for the 2019/2020 school year;
while police investigate a menacing social-media post
or respond to criminal activity in the neighborhood.
volunteers who are outside classrooms or buildings are
The ne•wMteurmstinboleogeynsrtoemllisnfgroimn kBirnevdaerdrgPaurbtleicnScthorolus’gh 12th grade during the 2018/2019 school year;
more detailed, planned approach to school security over the past couple of years. “Shelter in place” and “lockdown”
Schools go into lockdown when administrators or police confirm an active threat to safety. That could mean:
• Must have been reported by the school district for funding during October 2018 and
describe different responses to incidents depending on
• Police have linked a written threat to a potential February 2019 Florida student membership survey periods; and
Autism: Let’s Talk Communication
Presented By Rose Ann Roth & Dietrich Browne Brevard Public Schools, Autism Program Support
Monday, April 1,2019
5:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Please plan to join us for the evening BPS District Office Boardroom, Viera
For Questions contact
Dietrich Browne or Rose Ann Roth
(321) 633-1000 ext 425 or 534
Registration onEventbrite at link below
Seats are limited!
Regrettably, childcare will not be available.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/autism-lets-talk-communication-tickets-57997994563
During a lockdown, classroom doors remain locked to everyone. Teachers may quickly pull shades over windows including those in doors. Students move to more secure corners or rooms. If bells ring signaling lunch or period change, nobody exits classrooms. Students and staff or
told to seek cover or evacuate campus to safety.
on campus.
– usually by email, sometimes by text or phone message –
Coming soon!
We would like to encourage you to participate in the BPS Parent Survey! April 1 – April 19
For advertising information, contact Debra Foley at 321-633-1000 x529