School Safety Information

The TSC follows a multi-layer approach at each of our 20 school locations following the emergency management model addressing areas of Prevention, Mitigation, Preparedness, Response and Recovery.

• Access Control - Each of our school buildings are equipped with electronic access controls that involve interior and exterior lock systems. Emergency deactivation buttons are located in key locations for immediate deactivation in critical situations.
• Locked Doors and Ignore the Door - Campuses operate with all exterior doors locked and secured throughout the day, and we educate students and staff to ignore the door and not open if someone outside tries to enter from anywhere other than the main entrance.  
• Visitor Management - Visitors are directed to a controlled access entry where they are vetted by school personnel.  All visitors are required to sign-in with front office staff before entering the building.
• Secure Capture Areas - All school lobbies have secure capture areas to restrict visitor access to the building until cleared for entry.
• Security Cameras - All locations have security cameras that can be accessed by key administrative  personnel and approved safety personnel in the corporation office.
• Safety Enhancements - School Guard safety glass has been installed at many of our school locations to offer greater protection without limiting observation ability. Classroom doors are made of solid core construction with the ability to lock from the interior of the classroom. Most doors are kept locked during instruction to help expedite faster response in an emergency.
• School Resource Officers and Law Enforcement - Since 1998 we have had a formal partnership with the Tippecanoe County Sheriff’s Office.  Merit Deputies have 24/7 access to our buildings and their presence is encouraged while on their daily patrols. We currently have a memorandum of understanding to provide School Resource Officers (SROs) in our schools.
• Preparation and planning - Emergency action plans are reviewed and revised on an annual basis. School building walkthroughs have been established with respective area fire departments and other area first responders. The TSC also hosts a quarterly County Safety Committee meeting to help facilitate communication between a number of safety partners throughout the community. 
• Critical Response - A Crisis Response Team (CRT) is staffed by the TSC and is responsible for responding to critical incidents. This team is composed of school safety specialists, administrators, medical personnel, mental health professionals, transportation personnel, communication/information technology specialists and the school resource officers. 
• Emergency response - Safety drills to prepare students and staff are conducted regularly so everyone can practice how to respond to severe weather/natural disasters, fire, and man-made incidents, including internal school lockdown drills. 
• Reunification - A reunification process has also been established should a need arise in which a campus must be evacuated to an off-site location.  This procedure allows students and parents to be reunited in a controlled and efficient fashion. The process is exercised twice per school year with the help of student volunteers.

The TSC uses best practices in evaluating school threats and threats of targeted violence. Every school in our corporation has a multi-disciplinary Student Safety Assessment Team and School Safety Committee. When a threat has been identified, the Student Safety Assessment Team conducts a threat assessment using a national threat assessment model. If a threat is determined substantive, appropriate action is taken with authorities where warranted. Safety plans are implemented for involved students and impacted staff, students and families are notified. Every threat is taken seriously and if determined substantive in nature, the appropriate law enforcement agency is notified.

Our administration works closely with the Indiana Department of Education School Safety Academy to train School Safety Specialists. As a result, a Safe School Specialist is present in each of our buildings daily. These specialists participate in their school safety committee and are charged with implementing security measures at the building level that are consistent with corporation guidelines while meeting the unique needs of the campus.

Our mission continues to center around providing the best educational opportunities for every student in a safe environment. Here are some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about school safety.

• FAQ

Any parent or guardian who is concerned about the mental health of their child is encouraged to talk to their school counselor during the school day. If you have an immediate concern about the safety of your child or anyone else, please call 911 or contact one of the agencies below:

• Mental Health Association Crisis Line - 765-742-0244 or 1-877-419-1632 (Call or text)
• National Suicide Prevention Hotline – 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
• Indiana Child Abuse Hotline (DCS) – 1-800-800-5556
• Tippecanoe County Sheriff's Office - 765-423-9388

TSC Mental Health Liaison Megan Ulrich provides mental health resources, information and accessibility support to students, families, staff and community. Learn more.