Safety and Security: Frequently Asked Questions List

Below you will find a series of questions asked during the Gresham-Barlow School District’s 2024 School Safety Summit. Many of the questions we heard are answered in the GBSD School Safety and Discipline Handbook or posted on the School Safety and Risk Management Webpage.

If you need additional information or have a question that we have not answered, please contact us through our Let’s Talk online listening software and select the category School Safety.

What are the specific protocols in place for responding to various types of emergencies?

To respond to any and all emergencies, the District uses Standard Response Protocols (SRP). SRP is a series of practices that can respond to safety threats, intruders, accidents, fires, and weather events. These are common protocols used by all agencies in Multnomah and Clackamas counties, including police and fire. SRPs are used by K12 schools, higher education, cities, and businesses across the country. Information about Standard Response Protocols is available on the District’s website. 

How will GBSD reassure families about school safety?

The safety of students and staff is a top priority for the Gresham-Barlow School District. Safety drills are practiced monthly at all schools.  These drills and other safety topics are reviewed monthly at the school, program, and district levels for training and improvement. Many factors contribute to a safe school environment, and we continually strive to improve our safety practices and emergency readiness and response. Families who want to learn more about the ways we work to provide a safe school environment will find links to the resources we utilize by visiting the School Safety and Risk Management webpage on the district website. 

How can we improve communication with families about safety incidents?

After each safety incident, the District reviews its processes and procedures, including communications, to identify ways we can improve. We strive to provide families with accurate information shared in a timely manner. Even so, district staff’s first priority is addressing the immediate safety of staff and students in the building. Second, we want to ensure our information is accurate before sending it to the community. The District uses ParentSquare to communicate directly with families in the event of an emergency. We encourage families to make sure their contact information is up-to-date in ParentVue so they receive information as soon as it is sent out.

Who at the district office is accountable for student safety?

The District’s leadership team, led by the superintendent, is responsible for the safety and security of the Gresham-Barlow School District. The leadership team continually collaborates with school staff, families, and community partners to review, enhance, and improve safety practices, emergency readiness, and response. We practice monthly drill reviews, learn from past situations, and stay abreast of the latest strategies for increasing safety at schools. The superintendent and all of the district leadership take safety seriously and respond as a team to events.

Are the doors at our schools monitored?

Every school in the District has secured doors. We require students and visitors to check in through main entrances and maintain a log of who is in the building. As a part of our school bond improvements and recommendations from security professionals, we reduced the number of access points that students and the community can use.

Why did we move away from school resource officers (SROs), and can they be reinstated?

School resources officers were eliminated as a result of personnel shortages in the Gresham Police Department (GPD). The school district and Gresham Police Department are two separate entities, therefore the school district has no control over the GPD staffing shortage. We continue to work with the GPD, which regularly assesses the staffing and resources available.  

Although we do not have private security or SRO’s, the GBSD employs campus monitors to support most of our middle and high schools. We also have a Security Coordinator who partners with a Gresham Police Liaison to support all of our schools. 

What proactive steps can be taken to keep our campuses safe, including preventing weapons, drugs, and fights?

Funds from the 2016 School Bond enabled us to improve our security substantially through investments in integrated security systems, vestibules, and security cameras. We will continue to look at improving these systems. Families can help by talking with their students about safety and keeping weapons locked at home. The availability of weapons in the community continues to impact our schools, and there is a need for a broader, community-wide discussion about this threat to everyone’s safety. The vast majority of investigations are the result of a report from a community member, staff or student. We expect students, staff, and the community to report safety concerns as soon as possible.

How are students who disrupt the learning environment and pose risks to others being disciplined and supported? 

The GBSD School Safety and Discipline Handbook, which is aligned with state and federal law, provides guidance on responding to discipline incidents that occur on district property, at activities that take place on or immediately adjacent to district grounds, at any district-sponsored activity, on district-provided transportation, or at any official district bus stop. When discipline incidents occur, administrators and school staff members use the Levels of Response (p.8-14), the Disciplinary Response Guidance (p. 20-25), and the definitions provided in the Glossary (p. 26-32). 

What steps are being taken to ensure the safety and well-being of all students, especially those who are victims of threats or disruptions?

For students who have been threatened or feel unsafe, the school administration uses a variety of resources to address and resolve direct threats. This includes, but is not limited to, mediation between peers, no contact orders, and student safety plans. Students who report an incident to staff can expect a follow-up conversation from administration or counseling depending on the nature of the incident. The counseling department provides resources for mental health and student support.  Additionally, school-based partners offer individual and group services in the form of mental health, student clubs and activities, and leadership. 

Could families volunteer to monitor campus areas like hallways, and main doors?

While families are always welcome to volunteer at our schools, the building principal will determine what support is needed and connect you to just the right place to help your school. Please see our GBSD Volunteer Information.

What response is planned for fake threats or rumors, including possible expulsion?

When the school district or school is notified of a threat or rumor, the District immediately contacts local law enforcement and conducts an investigation. Once the person responsible for the threat is identified, police determine if charges should be filed. If the individual is a student, the school determines the appropriate punishment. False Reporting is included in the GBSD School Safety and Discipline Handbook (p. 23).

How can the District encourage more family communication and family education opportunities in school communities?

The District utilizes a variety of tools to support communication in our schools.  Some of these include ParentSquare, ParentVue, school newsletters, and family groups. GBSD has community partners that support families in a variety of ways.

Over the past several years, the District has hired multilingual and engagement liaisons to build relationships and increase family connection to our schools. This has resulted in increased school-to-home communication and sharing of events and resources for families. 

We are continuing to improve our efforts in communicating and connecting with our families. We just completed fall conferences and recently held a Drug and Alcohol Family Engagement event. Schools also have events specific for their communities to connect with students and families.