School Safety & Crisis Management Flashcards

A front-office staff member gets a bomb threat by phone. What should they do?

Answer: Keep the caller talking, write down details on a bomb threat checklist, and notify administration and law enforcement

Keeping the caller on the line and recording details (voice, background noise, timing) gives law enforcement critical information.

Under the Standard Response Protocol used by many Texas districts, what does a 'Secure' (lockout) directive mean?

Answer: The building perimeter is secured because of an outside threat, and classes continue inside

Secure/lockout responds to a threat outside the building: the outer doors are locked while normal instruction continues inside.

A chemical tanker overturns near campus and releases fumes. Which action best fits a hazmat shelter-in-place?

Answer: Bring students indoors, close windows and doors, and shut off the HVAC systems

For a hazmat release, sheltering indoors with air intake shut off keeps contaminated outside air from coming in.

Which entity serves as Texas's central clearinghouse for school safety research, training, and audit reporting?

Answer: The Texas School Safety Center at Texas State University

The Texas School Safety Center at Texas State University provides training and model policies and collects district safety audit results.

During a tornado warning, where should staff move students?

Answer: Interior hallways or rooms on the lowest floor, away from windows, in a duck-and-cover position

Interior, lowest-floor spaces away from glass and wide-span roofs give the best protection from tornado debris.

Which access-control practice best strengthens campus visitor management?

Answer: Funneling all visitors through one monitored entrance, where they're screened against ID and sex-offender registry records and given badges

A single controlled entry with ID screening and visible badges keeps unauthorized people out of the building.

During a safety emergency, may a principal disclose a student's records to law enforcement without parental consent under FERPA?

Answer: Yes, under the health or safety emergency exception, to appropriate parties when needed to protect the health or safety of the student or others

FERPA's health or safety emergency exception allows disclosure to appropriate parties when knowing the information is needed to protect someone's health or safety.