Safety of students and staff is of the utmost importance to Ridgeview CUSD #19. While highly covered by the media, school violence is actually quite rare. Still, we are acutely aware of the unthinkable nature of such situations and are committed to equipping our district with the best practices to keep everyone safe.
In recent years we have been working diligently to update our crisis management plan to incorporate these nationally recognized best practices. As part of these updates, the district has partnered with the Colfax Police Department and other local agencies to adjust our response to a dangerous intruder. The ALICE method is the response protocol endorsed by many law enforcement agencies including our local police department. ALICE stands for Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, and Evacuate. It is an evolution of our past response which relied primarily on Lockdown and instead, empowers individuals to use their best judgement by providing more options in the event of an emergency situation.
Each school year we take steps to perfect our response to a dangerous intruder. On Friday, May 7th, 2021 we will be conducting our required annual Law Enforcement/Intruder Drill. The purpose of this short drill is to familiarize students and staff with protocols taken in the event of a real intruder situation. Staff will also spend time discussing related safety information with students.
While some of the information may be new, most of it will simply add to what students currently do for evacuation drills, shelter-in-place drills and lessons on strangers shared by our student counselors. Please know we have the utmost concern for your student and their well-being and have a high level of sensitivity when involving children in these discussions. We appreciate your support as we integrate students into this process and welcome any questions or feedback you may have to offer.
Best regards,
Erik Young
Superintendent