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Ray-Pec Community,
I have had a few conversations in the community over the past couple of weeks on the topic of student and staff safety in light of recent tragic events elsewhere in the country. Without any doubt, the safety of our students and staff is a top priority. I want to share with you information about some of the many plans and protocols in place to keep students and staff safe.
These include:
- A single visitor entrance at each school.
- Procedures for visitors to sign in, including Raptor visitor management.
- Protocols to sign out students.
- Controlled access to all Ray-Pec buildings.
- Exterior doors are locked or supervised.
- Classroom doors are locked.
- Security cameras provide 1,100 views inside and outside all buildings.
- ID badges for employees and all students grades 9 through 12.
- Safety drills to prepare staff and students to act or react in an emergency.
- Safety drills for all age levels.
- School Resource Officers. We contract with the City of Raymore, City of Peculiar, and Cass County to provide certified law enforcement officers on our campus.
- Safety issues are routinely discussed at our monthly Administrative Council Meeting, which includes school principals and department heads.
- School administrators have training in threat assessment, active shooter and intruder response, trauma, and suicide prevention.
- The District employs mental health professionals who are available for consultation and assistance.
- The District provides “Quick Tip” as a way for anyone to make an anonymous report about a safety concern. The KC Crime Stoppers App will be coming soon.
- The District uses the Gaggle program to monitor student activity on school-provided devices for concerning content.
These are key components of the district’s on-going efforts to keep students safe. Please know there are other features in our safety plan and responses that I am not at liberty to discuss. In light of the recent events, we will review all of our procedures and may make further improvements this summer in preparation for next fall.
Our schools also work closely with and have excellent working relationships with local law enforcement and emergency services departments. Those agencies work with the school district to outline and review preparedness plans. Our local agencies provide support to Ray-Pec with rapid response times. Additionally, the district has allowed access to schools for the past several years for officers to train in scenarios where an intruder is threatening the safety of students and faculty.
A very important part of our safety plan is your help, as well. Often, parents or guardians are the first to notice a change in behavior in their child that can be concerning. As a parent, you can also remind your child how important it is for them to alert a teacher, principal, or any staff member if they see or hear anything that causes concern. In short, if you see something or hear something, please say something.
Schools across the country remain very safe places for students and staff. While it is difficult to prepare for every possible scenario, please be assured that the Ray-Pec administration and staff are committed to keeping our students and staff safe at all times. Together with your help, we can continue to make Ray-Pec a great and safe educational experience for everyone.
Thank you for entrusting your child to the Ray-Pec School District.
Mike
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