Agenda Item
c. Emergency Response Procedures and Protocols Booklet 2025-2026 & Safe Schools Crosswalk Checklist
Summary: Presented by: Mr. Elijah Palmer, Chief of Staff, Chief of Staff Division
Request: It is requested that the Board of Education approve the adoption and distribution of the updated Emergency Response Procedures & Protocols Booklet and the Safe Schools Crosswalk Checklist for the 2025-2026 school year. These resources are intended for district-wide use to support school safety preparedness, emergency response consistency, and compliance with state-mandated safety audits.
Why: Emergency Response Procedures & Protocols Booklet
The Emergency Response Procedures & Protocols Booklet serves as a standardized guide for responding to a wide range of emergencies across all DeKalb County School District facilities. It provides staff with clear, actionable steps for incidents such as lockdowns, evacuations, medical emergencies, and severe weather. By formalizing and disseminating these procedures, the district ensures a unified and timely response to threats, thereby reducing confusion, improving safety outcomes, and aligning with best practices recommended by emergency management agencies.
Safe Schools Crosswalk Checklist
The Safe Schools Crosswalk Checklist is a structured evaluation tool designed to assess each school’s readiness and compliance with critical safety protocols. It allows school administrators, SROs, and district leadership to conduct consistent walk-throughs and identify areas of concern related to access control, visitor management, emergency signage, and other security elements. This tool supports the district's efforts to maintain safe learning environments and fulfills audit requirements set forth by the Georgia Department of Education.
Details: The Emergency Response Procedures & Protocols Booklet was developed by the DeKalb County School District’s Department of Public Safety in collaboration with district leadership and emergency management partners. The booklet outlines clear, step-by-step procedures for staff and administrators to follow in the event of:
Lockdowns and intruder situations.
Evacuations and bomb threats.
Medical emergencies (including CPR and AED guidance).
Fire drills and actual fire events.
Severe weather responses (e.g., tornadoes, flooding).
Reunification protocols following an emergency.
Each school will receive printed and digital copies for distribution to all staff. Principals and School Resource Officers (SROs) will also receive hard copies for their administrative and emergency planning teams. Annual training will be provided to ensure procedures are reviewed and practiced.
Safe Schools Crosswalk Checklist
Details:
The Safe Schools Crosswalk Checklist is a standardized school safety audit tool designed to help administrators and school safety staff assess critical areas of campus safety. The checklist includes sections on:
Main entrance and access control.
Security camera placement and coverage.
Proper emergency signage and exit markings.
Functional intercoms and lockdown mechanisms.
Staff visibility during arrival/dismissal.
Presence of emergency kits and supplies.
Building perimeter security.
The checklist is designed to be completed during school walk-throughs conducted by administrators and SROs. It will be reviewed quarterly and shared with the Department of Public Safety to monitor school compliance and address vulnerabilities in real-time.
Financial impact: The implementation of the Emergency Response Procedures & Protocols Booklet and the Safe Schools Crosswalk Checklist will incur no additional fiscal costs, as both items are developed utilizing existing resources and will be integrated within the current operational framework.
Contact: Mr. Tracy Whaley, Chief of Public Safety, Chief of Staff Division, 678-676-2148
Mr. Elijah Palmer, Chief of Staff, Chief of Staff Division, 678-676-0791
Effective: Upon Board Approval
Status: Attorney Approval Not Required
Successful Guide to
School Safely
The Division of Safe Schools
2025-2026
Navigating Successful Safety in
Educational Environments
GPS to School Safety
The Purpose:
o Provide clarity on the partnership families and agencies play in school safety.
o Offer insight and understanding into monthly safety drills.
o Highlight state laws that support local safety efforts in our district and schools.
o Review the multilayered approach to school safety.
o Afford families the opportunity to share feedback specific to school safety.
Family Guide to School Safety
Parents and Families as Partners Monthly Safety Drills
Athletics & Extracurricular Events Monthly Safety & Security
Reminders
Family Guide to School Safety
When is the state window to
What is the Safe Is an Intruder Alert Drill
conduct the Intruder Alert Safe Zones &
Schools Act, HB like a Lockdown Drill?
Drill? Reunification
147?
Always Closed &
Locked Doors Visitor & Safety
Management Questions &
Feedback
Partnerships
Family Guide to School Safety
What You Do Parents and Families
Matters as Partners
Parents and Families are Essential Partners in
Keeping our Schools Safe.
5 Important Ways to Help
1. Make sure your students knows their home address.
2. Keep Infinite Campus information up-to-date.
3. Encourage your students to report anything unsafe.
4. Contact your school’s Principal / staff with safety
concerns.
5. Follow the visitor & volunteer procedures at school.
Family Guide to School Safety
What You Do Monthly Safety Drills
Matters
Monthly Safety Drills
Every school in the district is required by state law to run safety drills every month.
Safety drills include fire/evacuate drills, severe weather/shelter drills and this school year,
an Intruder Alert-Lockdown Drill per the Georgia Safe Schools Act (HB 147).
Remember to follow DCSD’s Standard Response Protocol (SRP). Every classroom and
office has a specific Standard Response Protocol - posted along with evacuation routes.
Family Guide to School Safety
Monthly Safety & Security Reminders
What You Do
Matters
All DCSD schools and facilities host safety and security trainings quarterly,
with faculty and staff, where best practices and reminders are discussed,
modeled, and shared with DCSD staff.
As a compliment, monthly safety and security tips and reminders are shared
with DCSD families and staff; so, safety is always a TOP PRIORITY.
Athletics &
Extracurricular
Events
Athletics & Extracurricular Events
DCSD, in partnership with Dekalb County Police Department, DeKalb Fire & Rescue and
Metro Ambulance Services, have an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) for each athletic facility.
All extracurricular events are directly supervised by DCSD School Administration, Campus
Security, and DCSD School Resource Officers. In addition to DCPD, they are also supported
by certified Athletic Trainers and other staff trained in CPR, AED and Stop the Bleed.
Events with large crowds are supported by DCPD, DCFD, and Metro Ambulance Services.
Additionally, designated events will require all guests to pass through a weapons detection
system.
Family Guide to School Safety
What is HB 147,
Safe Schools Act?
Safe Schools Act, HB 147 went
into effect on July 1, 2023
Every public school is required to
conduct an Intruder Alert Drill for
students, school administrators, teachers
and other DCSD personnel.
HB 147 also requires every
school to have an approved
Safety Plan reviewed by
DeKalb EMA and GEMA.
When is the state window to
conduct the Intruder Alert Drill?
Is an Intruder Alert Drill like
a Lockdown Drill?
An intruder alert drill and a lockdown drill both focus on school safety, but they
differ in the specific threat they address and the response they require. An intruder
alert drill is a response to an active threat within the building, such as an active
shooter, while a lockdown drill is a broader term for securing the building due to
various threats, both internal and external.
All public schools in the state must complete an Intruder Alert Drill
by October 1, every year.
DCSD has been conducting
Lockdown Drills as part of a
comprehensive emergency
drill schedule for the last
decade.
HB 147 gives each district the opportunity to conduct the Intruder
Alert-Lockdown based on their specific needs and desired outcomes.
The law and best practice do not promote the use of a “fake intruder”
or the inclusion of any type of instrument that could be mistaken as a
weapon.
Family Guide to School Safety
How will the Governor’s School Safety
Grant (HB 18) dollars be utilized?
Each district in Georgia receives
annual safety funding through HB
18, the Appropriations Bill.
Based on a needs analysis, feedback from the District’s Safety Team and BOE
approval, DCSD has utilized funds, and will be using funds towards:
✓ Safety Personnel at Each School
✓ CENTEGIX Pushbutton Alert System
✓ Evolv Weapon Detection System
✓ Evolv eXpediate Bag Scanners
Evacuation Safe Zones
Where does my child go in the
event of an emergency, and they
have to evacuate their school?
Every school has at least one designated, off-site Safe Zone.
Off-site Safe Zones could be used as the nearest possible
gathering space until staff and students can return to the
building or be dismissed home.
Specifics are kept confidential to protect students, staff and
the host venue.
Reunification
In the event of a catastrophic event at a DCSD campus,
detailed preparations to reunify at off-site locations has
been discussed, planned, drilled, and put into place.
Reunification
DCSD has protocols and procedures in place, in the event of a
school / schools need to reunify off campus.
A catastrophic event at a DSCD campus is defined as one or any
combination of the characteristics below:
The impacted campus is deemed unsafe and/or has suffered physical damage.
There are injuries and/or loss of life.
The campus can no longer function as intended.
Although unlikely, a gas leak, downed aircraft or active shooter are a few examples of a catastrophic event
and the reason why off-site safe zones and reunification locations are necessary.
The reunification process will be used to remove students and staff from the impacted location by bus and
transport them to one of our reunification locations.
Close & Lock Doors
All exterior doors to every school are closed
and always locked.
Additionally, all classroom doors are closed
and locked during instructional time.
All DCSD buildings / offices, and schools has a visitor
management system in place.
Upon entrance, every visitor is required to check-in and sign - in,
in the main office.
Additionally, checks for sex offenders using the state database.
DCSD partners with YOU, county police and
local fire departments, along with Georgia
Emergency Management and the Georgia
Department of Education to create a SAFE
environment for teaching and learning.
Families and all stakeholders are encouraged to work
with their administrators to address any safety
concerns.
Additionally, families and staff, please remember to
share any safety concerns and (or) questions.
https://dps.georgia.gov/blog-post/2018-10-19/see-something-send-something-app-available-ga
The Georgia Information Sharing and Analysis Center
receives data information sent through this app.
The previous Lifeline phone number (1-800-
273-8255) remains available to people in
emotional distress or suicidal crisis.
https://988lifeline.org/
Call, text or chat 988 to connect to a trained counselor.
https://dbhdd.georgia.gov/be-dbhdd/9-8-8-georgia
https://www.nasponline.org/resources-and-publications/resources-and-podcasts/school-
safety-and-crisis/school-violence-resources/talking-to-children-about-violence-tips-for-
families-and-educators