School Safety & Resources

• 319 cameras have been installed throughout the interior and exterior of our buildings, which can be monitored in real-time or viewed for specific events. This system is viewable off-site by law enforcement.

• Security vestibules and been install at the main entrances to our schools. Internal classroom doors can be locked quickly, which is part of regular school drills.

• Access Control Systems  are at all sites that allows the restriction of who enters the main entrance and monitors who enters the building during all hours. 

• Lock Down System at all sites that locks all exterior main doors (with the exception of portables and detached buildings) with one button operation during a threat called a "lockout". Staff have been trained, when the threat warrants, how to secure all classrooms in a full "lockdown”.

• Safety Vestibule or Secure Electronic Entry Systems that lead to the classroom areas. Any new construction includes these features by default, and we have completed the retrofit of our older buildings with the use of bond funds from 2019.

• Window Safety Film has been installed on all exterior windows at each school.

Our Critical Incident Response Team coordinates a variety of services to support our schools in the event of a crisis. The Team provides communication support, ensures site safety, provides transportation and food services, coordinates student reunification, and provides student and staff support. We also have a Crisis Recovery Team made up of school counselors, nurses, and other staff trained to provide immediate and ongoing support to students, staff, and families to help alleviate the emotional impact of a critical incident.

The Rapid Responder / Easy Alert System notifies leadership staff and the Critical Incident Response Team via email & text with important details in the event of a fire, earthquake, school safety or other incident. Law Enforcement and other Emergency Services access the system for information about the site, including building layout, to help in their response.

Each of our buildings runs a variety of safety drills throughout the year. From fires to active threat training, our students and staff practice how to communicate, follow instructions, and where to go in the event of an actual emergency.

This includes lockdown drills when a threat is off campus or an enhanced lockdown drills when a threat is on campus, fire drills, earthquake drills, and more.  All staff and students are trained on ALICE procedures.

A - ALERT is your first notification of danger. It is recognizing the signs of danger and receiving information about the danger from others.

L - LOCKDOWN: If evacuation is not a safe option, barricade entry points.  Prepare to Evacuate or Counter if needed.

I - INFORM: Communicate real time information on shooter location.  Use clear and direct language using any communication means possible.

C - COUNTER: As a last resort, create noise, movement, distance and distraction to reduce the shooter's ability to shoot accurately.

E - EVACUATE: When safe to do so, run from danger using non-traditional exits if necessary.  Rally points should be predetermined.

Every school is required to conduct no less than one (1) safety-related drill each month when school is in session. They must complete at least three (3) lockdown drills, one (1) shelter-in-place drill, and three (3) evacuation drills in accordance with state fire codes each school year. Schools must document the date, time, location, type of drill, lessons learned, and other pertinent information each time. 

The process for responding to drills is standardized across our entire district. Each classroom is provided with specific directions on what to do in the event of an emergency.

Emergency Response Instructions are posted in every classroom for easy reference.

A School Resource Officer (SRO) is a commissioned law enforcement officer who provides security services for Yelm Community Schools. The District contracts with the Yelm Police Department to provide on-duty School Resource Officers who serve all the schools in the district.

Our highly-trained School Resource Officers monitor, protect, and respond to situations in which they are needed, in order to foster a safe and respectful learning environment where each student can thrive.

Our School Resource Officers work closely with school administration and staff to find solutions and help students. The benefit of having the presence of our SROs at our schools is that they can develop a relationship with students where students can get to know the officers and become comfortable with providing information on potential issues. These positive relationships will help prevent and reduce school violence.

• OSPI School Safety Center
• Yelm Police Department or call 360.458.5701
• Thurston County Sheriff or call 360.786.5500
• Pierce County Sheriff or call 253.798.7530
• Department of Health - Drug Information

Update your contact information in Qmlativ/Family access or contact your school. Keep it current and check it frequently. Be sure student records reflect who is authorized to pick up your child.

Adjust your settings in School Messenger so you get the call/text/email where you want it. http://go.schoolmessenger.com, or download the app.

Talk to your child about safety – ask them how their lockdown or drill process works from their perspective. Get a picture of their experience. Explain to your child that cell phones should not be used during an emergency unless directed by a teacher, administrator, or emergency personnel.

Talk to your school about their safety plan – drills, types of responses, communications. Get a picture of their experience.

For homes with firearms - ensure/practice firearm safety. See the U.S. Government Accountability Office report for resources and additional information. 

Trust that emergency personnel and staff are doing everything to protect your child first, then we will communicate with you.

STAY BY YOUR PHONE/EMAIL/TEXT and our website. We will update you immediately when we have accurate information. Rely on us to get you the most accurate information as timely as we can – we are in constant contact with first responders during a crisis. Social media may not be accurate.  Please rely on district communications as the official information.

DO NOT CALL THE SCHOOL until directed.  The school is managing the emergency and needs to focus on student and staff safety.  

DO NOT GO TO THE SCHOOL until directed. These situations are filled with first responders, administrators, and our critical incident team working through their carefully planned response steps. Trust the process.

DO NOT CALL YOUR CHILD’S MOBILE DEVICE. Depending on the incident, a ringing phone is a safety hazard. Students need to pay strict attention to instructions from teachers, administrators, and emergency response personnel.

IF THE EMERGENCY REQUIRES EVACUATION, we will contact you with clear instructions on REUNIFICATION. Be ready to act on these instructions. Have your keys and ID ready to roll.

• If there is a safety incident at your child’s school, talk with them about the incident and listen to what your child experienced.

• Seek help from school staff or mental health professionals, if needed. You know your child best.

• Call the Crisis Clinic of Thurston & Mason Counties at 360.586.2800 if you need immediate support.

• If there is an evacuation or a reunification is communicated

  • Follow instructions provided in district communication

  • Students will only be released to a parent/guardian and/or other adults listed on the student’s Skyward/Qmlativ records. This procedure is designed for your child’s protection and for your peace of mind.

  • Photo identification is required for release of students.

  • Please be aware that reunification can be time consuming, and your patience is appreciated.

  • It is important to remain calm as children are greatly influenced by their family’s sense of well-being, and anything that families can do to reassure students will be helpful. At the same time, families need to be compassionate listeners when their children speak of the crisis. Seek help from the school, district or community resources if you or your child have concerns.

School Resource Officer – Law enforcement officer assigned to a school on a long-term basis to support safety and crime prevention.

Campus Security Officer - Trained security personnel on duty a school.

Drill - The practice of a specific safety circumstance designed to prepare staff and students to act quickly, minimize questions and fears and make decisions should an emergency take place.

Rally Point – A predetermined location away from the school campus where students and staff can safely evacuate to due to unsafe conditions at the school.  

Reunification Site – A secure location where students and staff are transported or assigned to meet at due to unsafe conditions at the school site. This location is where parents/guardians can pick up their students.

Student Release Area - Location at the reunification site where parents can pick up students. 

Evacuation - All persons exit the building.

Reverse Evacuation - Students return from outside to the safety of the school.

Lockdown - Used when there is police or animal control activity or a potential danger in the vicinity near a school, This includes locking all perimeter doors but continuing instruction inside a secure building and keeping students off playgrounds or passing between buildings. No one is allowed to enter the building.

Enhanced Lockdown - When there is an active threat on campus, ALICE techniques allow staff to use facts available in the moment, to make informed decisions. This is a proactive strategy allowing students and staff to get away from a dangerous situation. SRO’s, Campus Security, and Staff have been trained on ALICE protocols. This is an ongoing process and will involve age appropriate discussions with students. They are a critical partner in this process and need to understand the procedure.