Safety and Security

GUSD is constantly working to prepare for situations that endanger our staff or students. These are examples of the measures in place at our schools and offices.

Immediate Action Responses: These protocols can be implemented in a variety of different emergency situations. When an emergency occurs, it is critical that staff members take immediate steps to protect themselves, their students, and other people on campus. Here are the protocols for these situations:

Medical Emergencies

What: Action taken to attend to an on-campus medical emergency, when time is of the essence.

When implemented (including but not limited to):

Sudden cardiac arrest
Anaphylaxis (life-threatening allergic reaction)
Injuries requiring emergency medical services

What families can expect:

9-1-1/emergency response may be called
An Automated External Defibrillator (AED) or Epinephrine Auto-injector (EpiPen) may be used.

Shelter in Place

What: Short-term measure to isolate students and staff from the outdoor environment and prevent exposure to airborne contaminants or threats posed by wildlife or other hazards.

Actions: Closing and sealing doors, windows, and vents; shutting down heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems to prevent exposure to the outside air; and turning off pilot lights.

When implemented (including but not limited to):

External chemical release
Fire in the community
Hazardous material spills

What families can expect:

All heating, air conditioning, and ventilation systems may be shut down.
Any gaps around doors and windows may need to be sealed.
Allows for free movement within classrooms or offices.

Drop, Cover & Hold On

What: Immediate measure taken during an earthquake or explosion to protect students and staff from flying and falling debris.

Actions: Staff and students will drop to the floor, duck under sturdy desks or tables, cover/protect head and hold onto furniture.

When implemented (including but not limited to):

Earthquake
Explosion

What families can expect:

Students and staff should drop to the floor, duck under a sturdy desk or table, cover the head with arms and hands, and hold onto furniture.
Turn away from windows to stay clear of breaking glass.
Protect head by covering with arms if possible.

Code Blue/Secure Campus

What: Precautionary measures against the threat of potential violence in the surrounding community.

Actions: Students and staff will go indoors. All classroom/office doors will be locked. Entrance and exit points on the school’s perimeter will be closed. The objective is to protect against a potential threat at large in the community from coming onto campus. Code Blue differs from Code Red in that it allows classroom instruction to continue.

When implemented (including but not limited to):

Potential threat of violence in the surrounding community
Law enforcement activity in the surrounding community

What families can expect:

All classroom and office doors will be locked.
Outer gates and other entrance/exit points can be closed to deter a potential perpetrator from entering school grounds.
Classroom instruction and/or activity may continue as long and all students and staff remain inside through the duration of the event.

Code Red/Run Hide Defend

What: Protective actions against imminent human threat.

Actions: Students will remain in designated classrooms or lockdown locations at all times until instructed do otherwise by law enforcement or site administration. Doors will be closed, locked and barricaded with heavy objects. No one will allowed to enter or exit until door-to-door release by law enforcement or school incident commander. Run-Hide-Defend will call for snap decisions by staff to remain hidden, vacate the premises or defend against an intruder.

When implemented (including but not limited to):

Imminent threat of violence or gunfire is identified on the campus or the school is directed by law enforcement.
Gunfire
Immediate danger in the surrounding community

What families can expect:

Will be a quick response to an immediate danger; it will not preceded by any warning.
Requires common sense thinking under duress; do what must be done to best ensure survival of both students and staff.
If it is possible to safely get off campus, students will be told to immediately take that action (run).
If it is not possible to get off campus, staff and students will quickly lockdown inside a safe room and barricade the entrance (hide).
In the extreme instance that a violent intruder is able to enter a room, occupants should be prepared to fight back (defend).

Evacuation

What: Measures for the orderly movement of students and staff from inside school buildings to a designated outside area of safety when conditions make it unsafe to remain in the building.

When implemented (including but not limited to):

Bomb threat
Chemical accident
Explosion or threat of explosion
Fire
Earthquake

What families can expect:

Will be required to exit from the building to a designated safe site, on campus or off-site.
May require that students and staff rely on district bus transportation.
May require staff to exit via alternate routes based on circumstances.
Requires that students remain with assigned teachers unless circumstances prohibit that.
Staff and students will assist those with special needs to ensure for safe egress of all.

School Resource Officers (SROs): The district has two full-time SRO positions that are jointly funded by the school district and City. The SROs are Gilroy Police Officers who have special training on managing emergency situations at schools and have strong working relationships with district administration who would take the lead in an emergency. SROs are familiar with how GUSD schools operate and know safety procedures. They work hard to develop and maintain positive relationships with students and staff, and have been trained in Restorative Justice practices.

School Safety Coordinator: The District has a full-time School Safety Coordinator who handles all aspects of the District’s safety plans. His expertise as a former police officer has been very helpful to the district. He works closely with the SROs and our local law enforcement agencies. He attends safety and tactical trainings regularly. He responds to concerns from principals and staff about a wide range of safety issues and is the District’s liaison with a number of agencies. The School Safety Coordinator and the SROs take a very proactive approach in addressing threats of violence and respond quickly even during the evenings and weekend hours.

Staff Trainings: Safety protocols for all staff, including the definition of Code Red and Code Blue were reviewed with site principals on March 6, 2024. Principals have been directed to share District protocols with their staff and to hold required trainings for staff in the event of an emergency situation. Site administrators will review safety protocols with staff at the beginning of the school year.

School Fencing: All district schools, including preschools, are protected by fencing with gates at strategic locations. This is an initiative that was undertaken by the district following the Sandy Hook Elementary (CT) shootings in December 2012. District staff members are currently conducting an assessment of each school’s fencing and location of gates to evaluate if improvements are needed.

Schools Locked During the Day: Schools will be locked down shortly after the start of the school day and will remain locked until the end of the school day. Everyone entering the campus must come through the front office during the day.

Entry Video Intercom System: All District schools have a QOVO entry video intercom system. Individuals who wish to enter the main office of a campus must push a button, identify themselves to staff, and state the reason for wanting to enter the building. Front office staff can see and hear the individual wishing to enter and determines who may enter the building.

Security Systems: All schools, including preschools, have new, state-of-the-art security systems.

Schlage Locks: In 2018, the locks on all doors on District campuses were replaced with what is considered one of the top “Safe School Lock” systems (by Schlage). Teachers can lock their doors from inside the classroom in the event of a Code Red directive. The system’s technology makes it very difficult for anyone to enter a locked room without a key.

Run, Hide, Defend Drills & Training: In 2014, District staff and GPD participated in the production of the Run, Hide, Defend video. The video will be shown to K-12 school staff and secondary students (grades 6-12) throughout the District at the beginning of every school year. All GUSD staff and students participate in a Run, Hide, Defend drill twice every year. Two Code Blue drills have also been added to the calendar. One of [each type of] drill is observed by the SROs and District’s Safety Coordinator and feedback is provided to the principal about what can be improved.

Comprehensive School Safety Plans: Every school has a comprehensive school safety plan which includes a section on plans for dealing with emergencies when they occur on school campuses.

Visitor Sign In/Out on Campuses: The district has implemented a digital sign-in and sign-out procedure using the Raptor Technologies Visitor Management System. The system checks all visitors at the schools through the national sex registrant database to ensure that no registered offenders gain access to our students during the school day.

Radios: The District and school sites use radios for emergency communications. The radios are tested during earthquake drills. Analog radios are used at school sites that were having issues with dead zones to prevent communication lapses and digital radios are used at the other schools.

Campus Phone System, Intercom System, Alarm, Radio and Camera Audits: District staff is conducting a full audit of the phone and intercom systems used for internal and external communications. Audits of campus alarm systems, cameras and radios are also underway.

StopIT app: The District uses the StopIT app for students, staff and community members to anonymously report threats of school violence, bullying and other potentially harmful behaviors to site administrators and District staff.

District-Wide Communication Platform: In the event of a major emergency, GUSD uses the ParentSquare platform for instant parent/guardian notifications in their preferred language. The District can notify parents and guardians via text, email and phone with ParentSquare alerts if the need arises. It is critically important that the District have updated contact information on file for every student, including cell phone number and email address for parents and/ or guardians. If you are not receiving regular ParentSquare communication via text or email, please contact the Office Manager at your child’s school to ensure your contact information is correct.

In an emergency, critical information will also be communicated on the District’s social media platforms: Facebook and Instagram. Information will also be available on a school’s website in the event of an emergency. If you are not following GUSD on social media, please consider doing so.

Content updated March 13, 2024

Immediate Action Responses: The Quick Set

COVID-19 Prevention Plan (CPP)

COVID-19 Safety Plan (CSP)

Firearm Safety Memo

Talking to Children about Violence

Our Schools

In This Section

Nav Tier

Safety and Security

Medical Emergencies

Shelter in Place

Drop, Cover & Hold On

Code Blue/Secure Campus

Code Red/Run Hide Defend

Evacuation