ATTENTION:

The safety of our students and school staff is paramount at the Perry Central School District. One of the ways we stay safe is by conducting school safety drills. To help us practice and learn, we plan to conduct (1) Lockdown Drill between 1/27/25 and 2/3/25.

Before we practice a drill, we teach students and staff what they need to do. We talk about how the drill will be announced and and we always inform Students and Staff that it is a Drill.

After the Drill, students and families are encouraged to ask questions. Below are resources to help you talk to your children.

If you have any questions about Drills or other safety concerns, please contact the Director of Safety & Security, Officer Matt Masci, at mmasci@perrycsd.org.

SAFETY DRILLS AT PCS

Q: What do Safety Drills look like at PCS?

A: The Perry Central School District adopted 'Standard Response Protocols' (SRP) as derived from the "I Love U Guys" Foundation in 2023. The SRP is the "gold standard" for schools across the country and is action-based, flexible, and easy to learn. It rationally organizes tactics for response to weather events, fires, accidents, intruders and other threats to personal safety. SRP info for Families

Q: Why does PCS have to conduct Safety Drills?

A: The New York State Education Department mandates that, each school year, NYS public schools conduct at least:

  • (8) Evacuation Drills

  • (4) Lockdown Drills

  • (1) Emergency Dismissal Drill

    and that (12) of the above must occur before December 31st each year

PCS exceeds expectations by also conducting Shelter, Hold, and Secure drills as part of their schedule each year. As Hold protocol is frequently utilized for medical or confidential emergencies/events, the Safety Team feels it is important to exercise those expectations to ensure they are conducted properly. While a Shelter is less common, it is important that our students and staff know how to quickly move to a designated location in case of severe weather. While still infrequent, PCS may be advised to execute a Secure (Lockout) at a moments notice if a Law Enforcement incident occurs within a close proximity to the campus. To keep these protocols fresh in our minds, PCS recognizes the importance of conducting these drills in addition to those required by NYSED.

Q: Are drills scary or traumatizing for my child?

A: Not at all! PCS is part of the TIG (Trauma Illness Grief) Consortium of Schools. In this partnership, TIG educates districts, educators, first responders, and safety team members about best practices in many areas, including how to conduct drills utilizing a trauma-informed approach. Our entire UPK-12 Counseling Team is made up of TIG-trained School Counselors and Social Workers that also serve on each building-level safety team and advise on drill protocol. Additionally, effective July 31st, 2024 amendments to the Commissioner's Regulations §155.17 affirms that all drills moving forward must exercise that same approach.

Q: What are Trauma-Informed Drills?

A: the NYS Education Department has the following definitions

TRAUMA

Trauma means an emotional response to a deeply distressing or disturbing experience such as, but not limited to, an act of violence, natural disaster, abuse, neglect, or loss.

TRAUMA-INFORMED

Trauma-informed means an understanding of what trauma is and how it affects the physical, emotional, and mental health of students and adults.

TRAUMA-INFORMED DRILLS

Trauma-informed drills means avoiding tactics in training or drills that may introduce or activate prior trauma, such as use of props, actors, simulations, or other tactics intended to mimic a school shooting, incident of violence, or other emergency, or inclusion of developmentally or age-inappropriate content; and to recognize that drills may inadvertently prompt a negative emotional or psychological response in staff or students because of previous exposure(s) to trauma

Trauma-informed Drills avoid tactics in training or drills that may introduce or activate prior trauma, such as use of props, actors, simulations. Trauma-informed Drills avoid other tactics intended to mimic a school shooting, incident of violence, or other emergency.

Drills may not include the following:

• Fake bullets, fake blood, or simulated gunfire

• “Masked gunman” actors

• Staged scenarios involving staff and students that simulate a real emergency

• Etc.

In Trauma-informed drill practices, we:

  • Announce Drills by informing students and staff at the time a drill occurs that it is a drill (not required for evacuation drills).

  • Notify Families in advance of drill(s) that they will occur. Parental notification is now required for all drills (including evacuation drills).

  • Obtain Parental Consent for a full-scale exercise. Written consent must be obtained in order for a child to participate in the exercise.

  • Remain calm and move quickly.

  • Provide supports for students and/or staff as necessary.

  • After the drill, encourage our staff to discuss with our students: What went well? What could have been done differently? How did it feel?