Safety

SCHOOL SAFETY INFORMATION

Our greatest concern in the Kershaw County School District is your child’s safety. Several years ago, the district and each school created and implemented a coordinated, emergency response plan covering natural disasters and other emergencies. In the case of an emergency, we will notify parents using our automated messaging system. In order to make sure that you receive information, please make sure your child’s school has your up-to-date contact information so we can reach you.

SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS

Our school district partners with the Kershaw County Sheriff's Office and Camden Police Department to provide school resource officers (SROs) throughout the district. Each SRO is assigned to respond to any campus without a fulltime deputy in proximity to his/her primary assignment. These assignments are made districtwide in order to provide the quickest response by SROs.

All schools are instructed to call 911 first in the event of any emergency. In doing so, the closest on-duty deputy is dispatched in addition to the SROs.

EMERGENCY SITUATIONS

If you learn of a school or an area emergency, please do not come to the school to pick up your child. Each school’s emergency response plan includes procedures for protecting children as the first priority, followed by a system of reuniting them with you in a safe, orderly, and timely manner. Additional traffic will block any needed emergency vehicles. Your presence in the school building could delay the evacuation process. If you wish to discuss specific concerns or have any questions regarding our safety plans, please contact your school principal.

Lockout Vs. Lockdown

The differentiation between Lockout and Lockdown is a critical element in a Standard Response Protocol. A Lockout recovers all students from outside the building, secures the building perimeter and locks all outside doors. This would be implemented when there is a threat or hazard outside of the building. Criminal activity, dangerous events in the community, or even a vicious dog on the playground would be examples of a Lockout response. While the Lockout response encourages greater staff situational awareness, it allows for educational practices to continue with little classroom interruption or distraction.

Lockdown is a classroom-based protocol that requires locking the classroom door, turning off the lights and placing students out of sight of any corridor windows. Student action during Lockdown is to remain quiet. It does not mandate locking outside doors. There are several reasons for not locking perimeter doors during a Lockdown. Risk is increased to students or staff in exposed areas attempting to lock outside doors. Locking outside doors inhibits entry of first responders and increases risk as responders attempt to breach doors.

There may be situations where both Lockdown and Lockout need to be performed, but in this case they are identified individually. "Lockout! Secure the Perimeter. Lockdown! Locks, Lights, out of Sight." would be announced on public address. We are in "Lockdown and Lockout" would be conveyed to emergency services or 911.