Safety & Security
In Poudre School District, we want our students, staff and their families to feel as safe as possible. We care deeply about this. No school district or emergency services agency can guarantee that emergencies won’t happen, but we can continue to build our capacity to strengthen our shared culture of safety.
Our district’s emergency management approach is rooted in culturally-responsive, age-appropriate and emergency services best practices to prepare for, respond to and recover from natural and human-made emergencies. Here's how we approach safety and security in PSD.
People
PSD has its own Security Department, which prepares for and responds to emergencies in the district. Campus security officers (CSOs) train and prepare for emergencies with school resource officers. Security technicians work on installation/maintenance of security cameras, intrusion alarms and door-access control systems.
- Every school has a dedicated crisis response team, supported by the district’s crisis response team. These teams respond to crisis events at or involving the school
- School teams are made up of administrators and key staff such as the office manager, custodian, teachers, etc.
- The district’s team has representatives from multiple departments, including but not limited to Security, Mental Health, Employee Assistance Services and Communications.
- PSD has strong relationships with Fort Collins Police Services, Larimer County Sheriff’s Office and Timnath Police Department, whose school resource officers (SROs) serve all schools.
- Many outstanding regional emergency services agencies also serve our communities and work closely with our district.
Training
School and district crisis response teams attend the district’s Crisis Response Conference to refresh skills, update response plans, learn best practices, and collaborate with regional first responders.
- School crisis response teams participate in the scenario-based training “Seconds Count,” to learn critical steps to responding to school violence (person with a weapon, etc.). These teams also do tabletop exercises to help prepare for a variety of emergencies (medical, natural disasters, wildlife on campus, etc.).
- “Run, Hide, Fight” training for staff so they are as prepared as possible to respond to an active shooter.
- Students and staff are trained in nationally recognized Standard Response Protocols (hold, secure status, lockdown, evacuation, shelter).
In an emergency...
Building Features and Equipment
- Single point of entry at all schools; people must use video intercom system to enter schools.
- Interior and exterior surveillance cameras and updated intercom systems at schools
- A call button is in each classroom for staff to use to alert the school office in case of emergency. School teams also have radios to communicate with one another and SROs, as needed.
- All visitors and volunteers must check in at all schools using the Raptor system, which conducts real-time background checks.
How You Can Help Build Our Culture of Safety
- Students, staff and families are encouraged to “See Something, Say Something.” Safe2Tell Colorado provides an anonymous way for anyone to report concerns regarding safety. One can report a safety concern on the Safe2Tell website or call 1-877-542-7233. Students may also report concerns to any adult in school.
- Students, parents and staff can also report experiences that negatively impact their education based on race, gender, culture, religious belief, socio-economic status and sexual orientation. Visit the “See Something, Say Something” web page, linked at the top of the PSD website and school websites.
Contact Information
Director of Student Safety Emergency Management
Jarad Sargent | jsargent@psdschools.org
Customer Support Center
csc@psdschools.org | 970-490-3333