Parent info nights April 17 and 26
The safety of our students is of the utmost importance. The district has updated protocols for improving school safety, and students will learn about updated safety concepts and strategies this spring. Parents are invited to two information nights in April to learn more.
Parent Information Nights: Student Safety Training
• Monday, April 17, 7:00–8:00 p.m.
• Wednesday, April 26, 5:30–6:30 p.m.
4J Education Center, 200 N. Monroe St., Eugene
Spanish interpretation will be provided. Childcare is not available.
Best Practices for Safety
In Eugene School District 4J we are committed to giving our students, staff and schools the best practices to keep everyone as safe as possible in an emergency. Although school fires are very rare, schools practice with students how to evacuate safely in case of a fire. Similarly, although school violence is also quite rare, schools practice emergency safety procedures such as lockout and lockdown drills.
The district has updated protocols for improving school safety, as recommended by our local law enforcement, the U.S. Department of Education, Department of Homeland Security, and more. The district’s updated safety protocols, known as ALiCE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, and Evacuate), expand on our traditional safety practices and empower staff and students with more options to use during a life-threatening emergency, the kind we all hope never happens. That could include helping to barricade a door, evacuating the building on a moment’s notice, or even making loud noises, throwing objects, and interfering with an intruder if a threat is in the room and there is absolutely no other option. ALiCE empowers everyone to use their best judgment on each unique situation.
Sharing with Students
The district began implementing ALiCE protocols and training for all staff two years ago. Now, after thoughtful preparation, 4J schools will be introducing the updated protocols to students this spring. Teachers will begin to share these strategies with students during the months of May and June.
The student safety training will be age-appropriate, different at the elementary, middle and high school levels, and sensitive to students’ special needs. At elementary schools, students will have age-appropriate class discussions, practice evacuating, and talk about barricading. At middle and high schools, class discussions will include more specifics about potential dangers and options, and students will practice evacuating, sheltering or barricading in response to a threat. Although staff have trained with active-shooter drills, students will not participate in such simulations.
Preview for Parents
The district is offering two information nights in April for parents to learn more before these safety concepts and strategies are shared with student in class. At the information nights, parents will have an opportunity to review ALiCE materials and ask questions of district staff and local law enforcement. The learning materials also are available for review at schools.
Parent Information Nights: Student Safety Training
• Monday, April 17, 7:00–8:00 p.m.
• Wednesday, April 26, 5:30–6:30 p.m.
4J Education Center, 200 N. Monroe St., Eugene
Spanish interpretation will be provided. Childcare is not available.
