Director of School Support
507.328.4300 | Email Chris
Standard Response Protocol
Rochester Public Schools uses the Standard Response Protocol in response to emergencies that may occur in our school buildings. Students and staff will be training, practicing, and drilling the protocol throughout the year.
In the Standard Response Protocol (SRP), there are five specific actions that can be performed during an incident. When communicating these, the action is labeled with a "Term of Art" and is then followed by a "Directive." Execution of the action is performed by active participants, including students, staff, teachers, and first responders. The same terminology will be communicated to parents/caregivers via messaging from the district. The SRP is based on the following actions: Hold, Secure, Lockdown, Evacuate, and Shelter.
Hold
"Hold" is the protocol used when hallways need to be kept clear of occupants. "Hold" is followed by the directive: "In Your Room or Area."
Students are trained to:
Clear the hallways and remain in
their area or room until the “All
Clear” is announced
Do business as usual.
Adults and staff are trained to:
Close and lock the door.
Account for students and adults.
Do business as usual.
Secure
"Secure" is the protocol that safeguards people within the building when there is a threat or hazard outside of the building. "Secure" is followed by the directive "Get Inside. Lock Outside Doors."
Students are trained to:
Return inside the building.
Do business as usual.
Adults and staff are trained to:
Bring everyone indoors.
Lock the outside doors.
Increase situational awareness.
Account for students and adults.
Do business as usual.
Chris Lingen
Download materials
Download the Standard Response Protocols one pager in the languages below.
Lockdown
"Lockdown" is called when there is a threat or hazard inside the school building and is the protocol used to secure individual rooms and keep occupants quiet and in place. "Lockdown" is followed by the directive: "Locks, Lights, Out of Sight." Note that we are still using the ABCs during lockdown.
Students are trained to:
Move away from sight.
Maintain silence.
Not to open the door.
Adults and staff are trained to:
Recover students from the hallway if possible.
Lock the classroom door.
Turn out the lights.
Move away from sight.
Maintain silence.
Not to open the door.
Prepare to evade or defend.
Evacuate
"Evacuate" is called when there is a need to move people from one location to another for safety reasons. "Evaucate to a [stated location]" is the directive that will be given.
Students are trained to:
Leave stuff behind if required.
If possible, bring their phone.
Follow instructions.
Adults and staff are trained to:
Bring a roll sheet and Go Bag (unless instructed not to bring anything with them, dependent on the reason for
evacuation).
Lead students to the Evacuation location.
Account for students and adults.
Report injuries or problems using the Red Card/Green Card method.
Shelter
"Shelter" is called when specific protective actions are needed based on a threat or hazard.
Hazards might include:
Tornado
Hazmat
Earthquake
Tsunami
Safety Strategies might include:
Evacuate to the shelter area.
Seal the room.
Drop, cover, and hold.
Get to high ground.
Students are trained in:
Appropriate Hazards and Safety Strategies
Adults and staff are trained in the following:
Appropriate Hazards and Safety Strategies.
Accounting for students and adults.
Report injuries or problems using Red Card/Green
Card method.
Notifications
If notification has to be sent out about an SRP, parents/caregivers will be notified via
Alerts (email, phone calls, text messages)
School and District websites
Push notifications on the RPS app
Note that if you have asked to be removed from our mailing lists, you will not receive emails, phone calls, or texts. You will have to receive the information via one of the other channels listed above.
Drills
As a school district, we are required to conduct five drills during the school year. These drills prepare students for a variety of scenarios and include hold, evacuations, secure, shelter, and lockdown. Note that RPS does not conduct active-shooter simulations.
Before your student(’s school conducts a lockdown drill, the school admin will send home information about the lockdown drill. Parents will have the option to opt their students out of a drill. Please contact your principal with any questions.