Upcoming Lockdown Drill
Dear Central Academy period 8 students and families,
A week from Friday, on November 1, at the start of period 8, we will be conducting a lockdown drill at our school complex that includes Central Academy, Central Campus, and the Downtown School. During a lockdown drill, students and staff will be instructed over the public address system to follow the “locks, lights, out of sight” protocol. Classroom doors will be locked, lights will be turned off, and students and staff will move to the part of the classroom that cannot be seen from the hallway when the door is closed. Students and staff will stay in that position until someone with a master key comes to the door, unlocks it, and releases the room to resume normal activities.
In an actual emergency, students will be directed by their teacher to take turns texting their parents every 5 minutes to let them know they are okay. We will not be doing that as part of the drill, but we will explain the procedure to students. The reason we take turns and choose texting is to reduce demand on the cell towers and prevent the communication system from going down in an emergency. We will also explain that in an actual emergency we recommend that students take their phone, keys and billfold or wallet with them but leave everything else behind.
We have not done this sort of lockdown drill in the past because of the potential to be upsetting to students when the chances of a school shooting were so remote. However, we are at a point now where the fear of school violence is so high, it may be comforting to know the plan and practice it.
In addition to this new drill, we have instituted numerous improvements to our security. For physical security we have hired an additional campus monitor to check IDs when people arrive at school and improved attendance procedures, so we know who is in the school. We have installed new cameras throughout and around the school with AI technology to notice hazards and send alerts. Hazards can include traffic jams, unexpected crowds, slip and fall hazards (like spills on the floor), and weapons detection. We have emergency communication equipment, impact resistant glass on our entry way, new protocols for determining threats, new drills for different types of emergencies, and evacuation and reunification procedures, among other things. You can learn more about some of these improvements here: School Safety Protocols – Des Moines Public Schools
The most important safety feature of our school, however, is and has been our relationship with our students. We spend time as a staff discussing ways to incorporate social and emotional learning into our lessons so that students and staff can improve their self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision making. We listen to our students and challenge them with new ideas. Our school motto is, “we hold ourselves to the highest standards and support each other in our lowest moments.” Students are typically comfortable reporting their concerns to their teachers, counselors, or staff. One of our highest ratings that our students give us every year is feeling safe at Academy.
If you or your child are worried about our lockdown drill during period 8 next Friday, please let us know so we can make a plan to support you or your child during the drill. You can contact their teacher, a counselor, or any of our administrative and support staff.
Students’ physical and psychological safety are important to us. I take this responsibility very seriously.
Sincerely,
Dr. Gogerty