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Come Hurricane, Vandal Or Crisis, Hillsborough Schools Are Ready

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By COURTNEY CAIRNS PASTOR | The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 1, 2008

From the school resource officer to the fifth-grade safety patrol, keeping students safe at school is a group effort.

Taking Precautions

Every middle and high school in Hillsborough County has a law enforcement presence, at least part time. The sheriff's office, Tampa police and Temple Terrace police provide deputies and officers.

The district also employs security officers for 24-hour patrols and investigations into burglaries, vandalism and other crimes at school sites. Some of the security officers are assigned to elementary and alternative schools to act as resource officers.

Access to schools is limited and visitors are screened. All schools require volunteers and visitors to sign in at the office, with some using computer programs that track who comes and goes.

The Jessica Lunsford Act, named for the Citrus County 9-year-old who was kidnapped and murdered, mandates fingerprints and background checks for people who do business with school districts.

Notifying Parents

The district last year launched a mass notification system to get announcements out to parents over the telephone. The automatic system allows district officials to record and send messages that range from routine to serious. The majority of calls involve non-emergencies, such as meeting reminders.

In An Emergency

The resource officers often are the first to tackle problems. They get to know the children and encourage them to come to them about rumors, concerns or problems.

Schools have lockdown procedures if necessary to control access from the outside. The extent of the lockdowns depends on how severe the incident is. Schools may lock classroom doors and windows or suspend outdoor activities.

If weather threatens, schools move all children in portable classrooms into the main building.

Every school has an evacuation plan as well. Schools have designated primary and alternate locations for moving students, as well as areas for parents to meet. Children remain supervised until a parent or guardian with proper identification arrives.

What Parents, Students Can Do

Parents should make sure their contact information is current, so they can be reached through the automated phone system or personally by school employees.

Students can always go to a teacher or administrator if they feel unsafe, or they can report information anonymously though Crimestoppers. Call 1-800-873-TIPS (8477) or file a report online at www.crimestopperstb.com.

Families and school neighbors also can keep after-hours crime down by reporting suspicious incidents such as people loitering around schools or lights on in buildings that should be closed. Call the security office at (813) 623-3996.

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