Lockdown: Initiated when there is believed to be a potentially dangerous person on or near campus. Each room in the building is locked and movement between rooms is restricted. Windows are closed and locked, shades are lowered, and lights are turned off. Students are kept away from the doors and windows and out of the sight lines of anyone outside the room. Depending on additional information, those in the building may be prepared to barricade doors or evacuate the building. Students and staff must maintain calm and quiet, waiting for further information, including a message which students can send to their parents. Lockdowns are usually called by the principal or other authority, such as law enforcement. Each staff member has the ability and authority to use the school phones as an intercom to order a Lockout if they see an imminent threat. Students or visitors approaching the school which has been locked down should leave the area immediately.

Lockout: All exterior doors are locked and students are kept in the building, but movement between rooms within the school may be permitted. A Lockout protects students and staff from a potential threat on or near campus when it may be dangerous to go outside. Each staff member has the ability and authority to use the school phones as an intercom to order a Lockout if they see an imminent threat outside the building. Lockouts are most often called by law enforcement who are searching for a person in the immediate area.

Armed Intruder: A situation in which a person (or persons) with a firearm or other weapon is threatening to harm people or is actively engaged in shooting or attempting to shoot or harm people in a confined area. Armed Intruder situations are unpredictable and evolve quickly. Most such events are over within a few minutes. Because of this, students and staff must be prepared to respond before law enforcement officers arrive on the scene.

ALICE: There are five basic ALICE steps that may be implemented in an Armed Intruder situation:

• Alert: Inform as many people as possible within the danger zone that a potentially life threatening situation exists.
• Lockdown: Lock room doors, close the window blinds, turn off the lights, and be prepared to barricade the doors.
• Inform: If possible, communicate the intruder’s description and most recent location via the intercom, text, phone or email.
• Counter (fight): If confronted, use disruptive actions that create noise, movement, distance and distraction with the intent of reducing the intruder’s ability to shoot or do harm with accuracy. This may include running, screaming, and throwing items such as fire extinguishers, chairs, books, water bottles, or whatever is available. To survive and protect others from harm, a person or group may need to incapacitate the shooter by using aggressive force.
• Evacuate: Evacuate the building by running away from the intruder when it’s believed to be safe to do so.

During an armed intruder situation, staff may not have all of the information they need to make a fully-informed decision about which ALICE response option is best. While staff should follow instructions given by law enforcement or school staff during an incident, they may have to rely on their own judgment to decide which option will best protect lives.

Dangerous or Suspicious Person: This could be someone near the school, an unauthorized visitor, or even someone with a legitimate purpose to be on campus (student, staff, authorized visitor). Examples include a report of a person possibly carrying a weapon on or near campus, or a visibly angry parent who bypasses the school office in an attempt to confront or contact a student or staff member.