• Student safety will always be the first priority of the Lawrence Public Schools. It is important to maintain open lines of communication between home and school. Sharing information is the best prevention measure! (If you see or hear it, report it!) Encourage your student to contact an adult at school about any safety concerns. If you have a concern, please contact your student's school principal.

    • In the event of an emergency, dial 9-1-1.
    • KS School Safety Hotline: 1-877-626-8203 (For anonymous reporting of safety concerns) 
    • Headquarters Counseling Center: 785/841-2345 (24-hour crisis support hotline)
    • KS Bullying Prevention Hotline: 1-800-CHILDREN (For anonymous reporting of bullying) 
     
    Resources
    "Making Schools Safer," U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Secret Service, 2/2018
     
     
     
    Internet Safety: http://www.ikeepsafe.org/

    Digital Citizenship: http://www.safekids.com/

    NetSmartz (Elementary Resources): https://www.netsmartz.org/TrendsandTopics

    Wired Safety (Secondary Resources): https://www.wiredsafety.org/

    Safe Teens: http://www.safeteens.com/
     

    When we hear about violence at a school or anywhere, it naturally raises concerns for the safety of our own family members and friends. The staff of Lawrence Public Schools is a family, one that takes to heart the trust that families place in us to take care of their children while they are at school as if they were our own. There is no higher priority for us than the safety of our students and staff.

    Some of the safety and security measures we have in place and in use on a daily basis:

    • Nearly 1,800 professional and caring employees who build positive relationships with students by getting to know them and understanding their individual needs.
    • Strong relationships and open communication with school families.
    • District and school crisis plans, including specific procedures for lock-out and lockdown responses to unsafe activity near or inside our buildings.
    • Regular safety drills, during which students and staff practice, evaluate, and improve these procedures.
    • An automated notification system for emergency communication, including texting of parents and high school students who provide cell phone numbers in PowerSchool.
    • Homeland Security facilities audits have been conducted in each building to identify risks.
    • Secure entries at all schools with visitor sign-in procedures and badges.
    • A district staff badge identification system.
    • Internal and external surveillance cameras.
    • Promotion of mental health teams and safety reporting tools in our schools.
    • Review of security measures as part of school construction projects.
    • Board of Education policies and school rules that identify safety and behavior expectations and consequences.
    • Strong partnerships with local law enforcement and fire/medical services, including the involvement of representatives from each organization in our crisis planning.
    • School Resource Officers at the high schools, who also provide support at the elementary and middle schools on an as-needed basis, and security staff employed at each high school.
    • Partnership with Be SMART gun safety organization.

    This is not an exhaustive list, and we understand that no matter how much we plan, we cannot prepare for every scenario. We rely on every member of our school community to play their part by being aware of what’s going on around them, looking out for one another, and reporting anything that seems suspicious or that concerns them.

    We appreciate your partnership in helping us ensure our schools are safe, positive places for children to learn.