Students who become angry or upset with anyone are encouraged to resolve conflicts peacefully. Teachers, counselors and other school personnel can help students find civil ways to handle disagreements. A student who threatens to harm, attempts to harm or harms another student, staff member, school volunteer or visitor is subject to consequences. See Board Policy regarding Code of Student Conduct.

To ensure that you receive communications in the event of an emergency, provide accurate emergency contact information to your child’s school at the start of the year. Update your contact information with school staff as soon as it changes.

Each school will plan for and conduct emergency drills annually, including fire, tornado and lockdown drills. See Board Policy regarding School Safety.

When threats to a school warrant taking protective action, schools enter into a code red or code yellow lockdown. Schools enter into a code red lockdown if there is an immediate threat to the school. During a code red lockdown, students remain in their classroom or are moved into safe areas. Schools enter a code yellow lockdown if there is something in the community that may pose a threat to the school, but there is no imminent threat inside the school building. During a code yellow lockdown, all students return to and remain inside the building and continue with normal activities. Visitors may not enter the building during a lockdown. The lockdown remains in place until law enforcement officials give administrators an all-clear announcement.

Safe schools require a strong partnership between students, families, school staff and our community. We encourage parents to help keep firearms out of our schools by following www.wcpss.net/safestorage for resources on safely storing firearms.

Parents, guardians, students, staff and members of the community should report safety concerns or threats against a school or member of the school community to an administrator, law enforcement, or the 24-hour, anonymous WCPSS Tip Line at 919-856-1911. tudents and parents can also report these concerns using the SaySomething Anonymous Reporting System via the app, www.saysomething.net, or by calling the hotline at 844-5-SAYNOW (844-572-9669). Contact the WCPSS Office of Security Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 919-431-7777.

We partner with local law enforcement agencies to promote a safe learning environment through our School Resource Officer program. Parents, guardians, students, staff and members of the community can provide feedback regarding this program or individual SROs via our School Resource Office Program - Feedback Form www.wcpss.net/securityfeedback. This resource allows anyone within the school district to anonymously provide commendations or concerns/grievances.

Schools must be safe and free of weapons, drugs and other contraband. School officials may search a student, student lockers, student automobiles or school computers under the circumstances outlined in Board Policy, and may seize any illegal, unauthorized or contraband materials discovered during the search. See Board Policy regarding Student Searches.

Students are not permitted to possess, handle or transmit any weapon, facsimile of a weapon, dangerous instrument or substance or other object that can reasonably be considered or used as a weapon or dangerous instrument or substance. See Board Policy regarding Weapons and Explosives Prohibited and Code of Student Conduct.