Campus Safety – Letter to Parents

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Southlands Christian Schools places high priority on school safety and we continually strive to seek new
ways to enhance our school safety operations.  In an effort to keep you informed, we have listed several
safety measures currently in place which are designed to safeguard students and staff. 

As always, we welcome your comments and would be delighted to discuss any ideas or concerns you may have regarding the matter of school safety or emergency preparedness.

SCS implements the following safety measures:

• Campus Safety Department:  The security guards patrol the campus, secure the perimeter of
  the school, monitor outside activity in surrounding areas.  They watch for and report
  irregularities such as security breaches, facility and safety hazards, and emergency situations.
  In addition, they contact emergency responders, such as police, fire, and/or ambulance
  personnel, as required.
• Visitor Registry:  All visitors have to register with the front office before having access to the
  building; this is currently done with the Swipe On System.  Our team of security guards enforces
  this policy by ensuring that each visitor on campus is registered and has a visitor badge.
• 24 hours Surveillance System:  We have over 30 digital cameras throughout campus to
  monitor activities inside administrative offices and outside buildings.
• Controlled Access:  All entry gates are monitored by a security guard.  In addition, all classroom
  doors are locked during school hours.  This allows for quicker response time in the event of a
  lockdown emergency.
• Emergency Training:  Our Campus Safety Department leads and conducts various emergency
  training sessions.  Such training includes “evacuation,” for fire emergencies; and ‘lockdown”.
• Crisis Planning Team:  Our Campus Safety Dept. and School Administrators evaluate school
  safety and emergency procedures throughout the year.  We evaluate existing procedures and
  evaluate new tools.  Our goal is to implement more effective and efficient ways to protect our
  students and staff.
• Crisis Communications Plan: SCS has a robust system in place whereby key administrators are
  informed of an emergency situation.  We currently are using two alert systems:
  1) Alert Solutions:  to update parents regarding a situation on campus
  2) Lockdown Alert: “LOCKDOWN”, a panic button system that alerts all first responders
  and all faculty/staff.

At Southlands Christian School, your children come first.  Thank you for entrusting them to our care.
Our school Administration is currently considering other options to enhance our existing campus safety
program.  SCS will continue to strive to have the people, Processes, infrastructure, and emergency plans
in place throughout our school to help safeguard your children.

Respectfully,

Glenn Duncan
President/CEO