Royal Oak Schools Emergency Guide
Statistics consistently show that schools are among the safest places to be due to the strong commitment of educators, families, and the community to our students and schools. We strive to be proactive rather than reactive. This guide outlines the key elements of Royal Oak Schools state of preparedness. We hope it will answer your questions concerning our actions and intentions in an emergency.
For consistency, we have developed the following terms to use:
- Drill: An activity that covers a specific safety circumstance and prepares our students to act quickly and minimize questions and fears should an emergency occur. (A drill could be for a fire, tornado, or lockdown.)
- SRO: School Resource Officer; a uniformed Royal Oak Police Department officer assigned to schools to help build and maintain relationships between police, students, families, and employees.
- Secure Mode: Instruction continues in a secure building. All occupants remain in the classroom/building. Movement within the building is at the building administrator’s discretion.
- Medical Secure Mode: Instruction continues in a secure building. All occupants remain in the classroom/building. Movement within the building is at the building administrator’s discretion.
- Lockdown: Occupants are kept in rooms or areas that are secured. There is no movement within the building. Lockdown procedures are followed.
- Relocation Site: Area where students and employees are transported in an emergency.
- Reunification Site: Location designated where families may pick up students. This location will be communicated to you at the time of an emergency.
As soon as possible, please:
- Ensure your contact information in MiStar is current and accurate, including who is authorized to pick up your student.
- We will use this information and multiple communication channels (phone call, email, text message (if opted in) to provide accurate and timely information in an emergency).
- If necessary, we may also use our District website (www.royaloakschools.org) and/or district social media (Facebook, Twitter), and local news outlets may be asked to broadcast information.
- Explain to your student that cell phones should not be used during an emergency unless directed by an adult. Your student must pay attention to instructions from trained personnel.
What you can expect if an emergency occurs:
- The emergency operations plan will be implemented, and the District/school emergency teams will respond.
- All appropriate emergency response agencies will be dispatched to the school.
- Depending on the situation, students and employees will be secured within the building or relocated to a Reunification Site.
- Families will be informed about the situation in as much detail as possible. The first and official way for us to contact you in an emergency is using our automated phone calling system. This will likely originate from the phone number 248-435-8400. Please save this phone number in your contact list now. Please only rely on these official communications.
- In an emergency situation, phones are needed to manage the situation, and lines must remain open. Calling could also put students and employees at risk in an intruder situation. For example, if they did not have time to turn down their ring volume, your call could give away their hiding spot.
- You will not be allowed on school grounds during an emergency. Emergency personnel responding to the situation need the area clear to do their job. After emergency responders determine that a safe student release is possible, arrangements will be made to reunite students with their families. This will occur at a reunification site.
- Students cannot take their property (coat, backpack, etc.) in an emergency.
After an Emergency:
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You may be directed to a reunification site, where you must show photo identification.
- Students will only be released to a parent, guardian, or other adult listed as a verified emergency contact in MiStar, which you designated at the beginning of the school year. This procedure is designed for your student’s protection and for your peace of mind.
- Please be aware that reunification can be time-consuming, and we appreciate your patience.
- It is important to remain calm as their family’s well-being greatly influences students. At the same time, families need to be compassionate listeners when their student speaks of an emergency. Please seek help from the school, district, or community resources if you/your student have concerns.
All Royal Oak Schools employees, students, families, and community members are encouraged to report anything they see, hear, or are made aware of that may impact a school.
When providing information, please be as detailed as possible. Include the name of the school(s), the person(s) involved, the type of alleged activities, and when they occurred/may occur.
- All threats are taken seriously. Police are notified, and officers and school administrators work together to thoroughly investigate any threat, whether made verbally, in writing, by email, by text, or online. The earlier we know about a potential threat, the earlier an investigation can begin.
- Anyone who makes a threat against a school could face criminal charges. If a student is involved in making a threat, the school/district will respond as outlined in the student handbook.
WARNING: it is against policy to impersonate an official Royal Oak Schools social media account or post false information about or from the school system under an anonymous account or alias.
Depending on the nature of the post, such action may result in notification to local law enforcement. If made by an employee or student, it could result in disciplinary action.
How we respond to an emergency is greatly influenced by the specifics of an incident. Our plans do not replace the authority of emergency personnel. Our employees work in full cooperation with these agencies.
For security reasons, components of our emergency plans are not publicly available.