School Safety

The School District of Lodi recognizes that staff and student need to be well trained to respond to active threats in the most effective and appropriate manner.

• The district utilizes the nationally recognized ALICE training program, the number one active shooter civilian response training.
• Staff in all district facilities have been trained in the ALICE protocols, and in turn, staff have trained our students.
• District personnel, the Lodi Police Department, the Lodi Fire Department, Lodi EMS, City of Lodi and Bus Company, work together to provide training and drills. We are proud that we are successfully conducting drills to assess the understanding and implementation of the procedures.
• We have ALICE Certified Instructors on staff

A.L.I.C.E. is an acronym for Alert, Lockdown & Barricade, Inform, Counter & Swarm, Evacuate.
Although it is written out in the fashion listed above, the response is not “linear” but rather, the response selected fits the threat. One of the most important components is to give adults and students more decision making power so that they can implement the best response to the threat they are facing. Combined with the decision making power is the ALERT and INFORM.

Alert, Inform
Anyone who has information can provide the ALERT to initiate a response, and as the situation develops, anyone with current information can INFORM others. Once someone provides an ALERT about an active threat, teachers (and students) make the best decision on what to do. We encourage folks to use their phones to call 911 to alert law enforcement.

Evacuate
When possible, we want folks to EVACUATE and get as far away from the threat as possible. In some cases, staff and students may EVACUATE “into” the building if the threat is outside. If the threat is far enough away (at the opposite end of the building), we want folks to EVACUATE out of the building at the nearest exit and run away from the active threat. When they get a safe distance from the threat, they should gather at a rally point and call 911.

Lockdown & Barricade
If EVACUATION is not an option, those who are being threatened must LOCKDOWN and BARRICADE the room. Staff and students are taught to use everything in the room to keep the intruder from entering the room. Students have been particularly creative in finding effective methods of barricading doors. When LOCKED DOWN and BARRICADED people need to identify potential exits, other than the main entry doors. Although we want those in the rooms to silence cell phones, we train them to contact 911 and provide information.

Counter & Swarm
If an intruder begins to gain access to the room, staff and students are taught to COUNTER and SWARM. They are trained to use whatever is available to distract the intruder, including throwing items like paper, pencils, or books. This COUNTER disrupts the “OODA loop” or the intruder’s process of Observing, Orienting, Deciding, and Acting. Many may be able to EVACUATE the room during the COUNTER process. Staff or older students should use an item like a chair, or book to knock the weapon out of the intruder’s hand as they attempt to enter and then other students can SWARM and hold the intruder’s arms, legs, and head. 

Our goal is to ensure that students and staff are prepared for life beyond the school setting.
Feedback from parents/guardians, and community members indicates that our students have become much more aware of how to keep themselves, and others, safe in any environment.

Placing school safety as a top priority is essential to creating a safe and nurturing educational environment for our students and staff.  Below is an overview of our district approach to any potentially threatening comments, behavior, or circumstances should such instances develop in any of our schools.  This overview is generalized to preserve a level of operational security for the school district and law enforcement.  School safety measures are reviewed by our school safety team.

When school and/or district administration receives information that an individual may have made a threatening comment or action targeting oneself, others, or one of our schools, our threat-assessment protocol is enacted, and our administrative team may contact the City of Lodi Police or Columbia County Sheriff's Department.  In general, our threat assessment protocol and action steps are as follows:

• The administration will immediately work to determine the person(s) involved and the validity of the threat and the risk it poses based on the information available, including student age and/or disability, and the origin of the threat.  
• The City of Lodi Police or Columbia County Sheriff's Department may engage in a separate investigation of the potential threat, and in cooperation with the administration, a final determination will be made regarding the level of risk the threat poses.  
• Whenever appropriate, our mental health professionals will assist in determining the danger to oneself, others, or the school population.
• Depending upon the level of risk determined by the team, any one of the following next steps may occur separately or in conjunction with one another:
  • If there is a credible threat, we will enact our security measures during the school day (ALICE) or possibly close the school if the threat is made in advance of the school day.
  • We may determine that the information is not a valid threat, and continue normal operations or make accommodations to ensure a safe environment.
  • Due to the complexities of digital media, threats posted digitally will be analyzed and may be turned over to law enforcement for a more advanced review.  
  • We may implement appropriate school-determined consequences.
  • We may seek further risk-assessment evaluations by mental health professionals inside or outside of the school to prevent harm to self or others.
  • Upon consideration of all available information, we may consider school re-entry requirements when appropriate.
  • Law enforcement may implement consequences they deem necessary.
  • Following the incident, the team will debrief procedures and resulting consequences. 

With each of these potential threats, we follow our assessment protocol; however, each situation is treated as a unique and individual circumstance requiring case-specific determinations.  In most cases, the community, the teachers, and even the students do not have access to the full knowledge regarding the details of these primarily confidential and individual circumstances.  This makes specific communication difficult.  It is not our intent to provide vague and/or ambiguous information; instead, we try to give as much information as the law provides and/or the situation warrants.  If we have information that indicates a threat is credible, we will take decisive action and provide information using district communication tools.

If an emergency should occur during school hours:

• Parents/guardians should not call the school. The telephone lines must be open for emergency calls.
• Parents/guardians should also not immediately drive to the school. Access to the school will be for emergency personnel only.
• The School District of Lodi will provide parents/guardians with clear directions about an incident and reunification as accurate information is available

While it is important for us to quickly update parents, it is also important that the information we send is accurate. Please be aware that emergency situations are fluid and always changing, and that information received from non-District sources such as the news media and social media may be inaccurate.

After Event Parent Communications:

At the School District of Lodi, Digital Citizenship is addressed at all levels with our students. The lessons vary based on grade level.

For parents, we recommend the following resources:

The Wisconsin Department of Justice Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the Department of Public Instruction have launched a program called "Interact!". Interact is an online e-course created for parents and guardians to complete alongside their children with the goal of initiating online safety discussions at home. For more information

Interact Online E-Course.

In addition, Common Sense Media provides a robust set of resources for parents. Common Sense Media has been around since 2003 and provides parent resources for online activity, movies, tv and more. Common Sense Media Resource to learn more.

Each school building has a safety/crisis team that meets multiple times throughout the school year. It’s not uncommon for the teams to convene after a drill, severe weather incident, or other event and debrief to focus on identifying process improvements.

The School District of Lodi counseling staff is available to help students in need of assistance. In addition to students, parents/guardians are encouraged to reach out. For more information about counseling services please contact your child(ren)'s school.

Secure Entrances
All of our School District of Lodi schools have locked, secure entrances. External doors are locked during the school day.

Panic Buttons
All our buildings are equipped with direct notification systems allowing members of our staff to connect directly to law enforcement. Imagine a situation where many individuals are calling emergency services at the same time; this system, so to speak, allows us to jump the line, and share the location of the crisis immediately. In testing, we’ve learned that response to our schools is very quick, and we know that the City of Lodi Police will immediately enter our facilities in a crisis.

Building Visitors
All visitors to the school buildings will need to buzz into and check into the school offices before proceeding into the building.

Created by the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of School Safety (OSS), the SPEAK UP, SPEAK OUT Resource Center is a comprehensive location to relay your concerns.

SPEAK UP, SPEAK OUT allows students and community members to confidentially report tips on potential harm or criminal activities directed at school students, school employees, and schools. The SPEAK UP, SPEAK OUT Resource Center can respond confidentially and quickly to get help to you or to someone who is hurting or struggling.

Anyone can submit a tip 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week by:

Texting “SUSO” to 738477

Visiting the “SUSO” online tipline 

Calling 1-800-MY-SUSO-1 (1-800-697-8761) to speak to a trained “SUSO” analyst

Downloading the mobile app, which is available for iOS and Android users

For more information, please visit the Speak Up, Speak Out Website.