School safety is a priority for parents, educators, students and the community. Maintaining a safe learning environment is fundamental to supporting the learning and development of our students. With a focus on the wellbeing and safety of our students and staff, the MeskwakiSettlement School emphasizes the importance of reducing the risk and impact of exposure to both natural and un-natural disasters

An informational meeting for parents to communicate what the safety trainings for students will look like is to be offered.

The Parent Informational Meeting will be held during conferences on Thursday, October 25, from 5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. (Conferences will run 2 p.m.-8 p.m.)

This informational meeting for parents is the next step. You will have a chance to learn more about the options available and to have questions answered or any concerns addressed. Following the parent meeting, we will begin to have age-appropriate discussions with students to shift the odds of surviving a violent encounter in their favor.

Through the development and implementation of preventative measures and multiple crisis response plans the Meskwaki Settlement Schools continues to collaboratively work with law enforcement, fire, emergency management, and safety professionals to assist students and staff in increasing positive outcomes when responding to a variety of emergency situations including weather, health concerns, or threats.

In addition to becoming a state and federal mandate, the trainings have become the norm across Iowa as well as nationally.

Over the years the number and impact of violent incidents in public buildings has increased.

Over the years, the Meskwaki Settlement Schools have proactively taken steps to decrease the likelihood of such an event taking place at school. This year, our staff has undergone multiple Violent Intruder Trainings. These trainings have been highly recommended by Homeland Security and will become a mandatory training on June 30th, 2019.

The new safety trainings will emphasize staff and student options for responding to a dangerous intruder situation. Based on the information available, staff and students will utilized an enhanced lockdown, evacuate the building, or counter an attack when appropriate and safe to do so. The goal is to empower every district employee and our students to have choices in violent intruder situations that would increase their chances of survival.

For more information, please visit:

www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/active_shooter_booklet.pdf

Safety Training Video created for the Waterloo Community Schools:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsh5u7j1Buo&feature=youtu.be